Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Faux Empty Nesters

On Sunday, the NYT had a great little article about how more and more young adults today are moving back in with their parents. Remember back when it was considered kind of uncool to move home after graduation? You are what, 22 or 23 or so, and God forbid that you live at home with Mom and Dad again. You are supposed to be an adult. Ready, set, go succeed.

I am so glad those days are over.

When I graduated, I was lucky enough to be able to move home to live with my parents in Roswell, GA. Roswell is about 25 minutes North of downtown Atlanta, and just 15 or so from the Buckhead area. In other words, it wasn't far from my job and my friends, and made for a perfect place for me to hunker down and save some serious money. I had a new job, no debt, and just wanted to save money to buy my own place. My other friends living at home had similar missions - paying off student loans, saving for a new car, unsure of their next career moves, etc.

Granted, not everything was easy. Dating, for one, was challenging. "Thanks for taking me out tonight. Do you want to come in and ... sit in my parent's living room?" (Ack). And my parents and I worked out a system so they wouldn't worry if I was out later than usual with friends (I would call with my evening plans ahead of time).

But when I look back on those 16 months I lived at home, I hold no bad memories. I really did love it. My parents are fun and I really enjoyed being an adult at home with them again - I felt like I was able to become their friend in addition to their daughter. There's nothing quite like coming home to the comforts of your family home. And oh my goodness, I was able to save for my condo's down payment in no time.

Did you move home after you graduated, or did/will at some other point in your life? How did you work out arrangements with your family?

8 comments:

DuffGT06 said...

Since my mom kicked each of us kids out when we were 18, no chance of that for us! Which, I'm actually thankful for. No way we would have any semblance of a healthy relationship today if we had lived together.

Unknown said...

I wish I could have had that opportunity. It would have made the whole unemployment part of my life much less painful. But, alas, my parents moved away and their county in Florida has the highest unemployment rate in the state, which left me in Atlanta. While it's been nice being on my own, and I have learned a lot, it also would have been nice to stay with my parents for a little while.

Unknown said...

Katie and Sarah, I hear you!! I realize how lucky I was that the parents were both close enough in location and had an open bedroom still :) Though my Mom still threatens to convert it into a crafting room.... :P

DuffGT06 said...

Tell her that's ok once you get married!

Bela Naomi said...

Katherine, I can say I went through almost the exact situation as you. I spent 6 months after graduation living at home to save $$ for my downpayment, and while it was certainly strange being back under "house rules" after being on campus for 5 years, it was so nice coming home to meals every night and I never had to go grocery shopping. They never charged me rent, though I know some parents do, just to teach their kids about money. My parents put me on my own in college with a deal to pay for food and gas. But with HOPE and being an RA, my internships paid for spending money and I was able to put away a little to save. That may have been also why they opened their doors to have me back - they discovered I did OK for 5 years on my own. Now, 4.5 years later, I think I'm still doing OK :-)...though I do miss the home cooked meals every night!

Unknown said...

Bela - it really does sound like we had almost the same experience! I also had a job in school to pay for my social life, and so I learned early on that I couldn't always afford everything that I might want to do. Great training for today when I am really and truly on my own!!

Maryanne said...

We LOVED having you!

Unknown said...

YAY thanks Mom :) :)