Admiral Beez
Superstar
I reading the article in Toronto Life, titled Home Sweet Home, of millennials who’ve made the move to adulthood then returning to their parents’ homes. The article isn’t concerning ethnic groups where kids stay home until marriage even if that’s into their 30s, but instead covers those who’ve moved out to seek their fortune, didn’t like it, and came back.
One of the featured characters especially made me cringe, where the 30+ year old not only moved back into her parents house after running out of money, but also brought her boyfriend to live in the parents house, with the closing “we don’t plan to move out any time soon...ideally, we’ll inherit the house. Buying a house in Toronto isn’t a realistic goal.”
The entire article was cringeworthy, especially the combination of both lack of shame and gratitude. None of the now 27+ year old people appear to have considered relocating. One chose the career-student path, accumulating a hundred grand in debt at some foreign medical school, but forgoing the final step that turns the education into income, that of applying for residency, and instead is back at her original job, and back with mom and dad.
I would have felt great, deep and personal humiliation had financial failure or other consequences of my choices pushed me to return to living with my parents in my 30s. And to their credit, along with providing the refuge from myself, my parents would have conveyed that shame along with pressure to have a plan to get out. And unlike the character above, I’ve never counted on an inheritance, both my parents are now gone, and there was none, I have my own money thanks.
As you can likely tell, this article touches a nerve. I found myself wondering what the hell happened to people in their late 20s and early 30s. Where’s their independence and drive to launch? Can’t afford a house or condo in Toronto? It’s a big country out there, ensure your education can get you a job in the prairies or Atlantic Canada, where houses can go for peanuts compared to Toronto and where good lifestyles can be had. Mommy’s basement should be a last resort, and a short term refuge while you dust off the wreckage and plan relaunch.
One of the featured characters especially made me cringe, where the 30+ year old not only moved back into her parents house after running out of money, but also brought her boyfriend to live in the parents house, with the closing “we don’t plan to move out any time soon...ideally, we’ll inherit the house. Buying a house in Toronto isn’t a realistic goal.”
The entire article was cringeworthy, especially the combination of both lack of shame and gratitude. None of the now 27+ year old people appear to have considered relocating. One chose the career-student path, accumulating a hundred grand in debt at some foreign medical school, but forgoing the final step that turns the education into income, that of applying for residency, and instead is back at her original job, and back with mom and dad.
I would have felt great, deep and personal humiliation had financial failure or other consequences of my choices pushed me to return to living with my parents in my 30s. And to their credit, along with providing the refuge from myself, my parents would have conveyed that shame along with pressure to have a plan to get out. And unlike the character above, I’ve never counted on an inheritance, both my parents are now gone, and there was none, I have my own money thanks.
As you can likely tell, this article touches a nerve. I found myself wondering what the hell happened to people in their late 20s and early 30s. Where’s their independence and drive to launch? Can’t afford a house or condo in Toronto? It’s a big country out there, ensure your education can get you a job in the prairies or Atlantic Canada, where houses can go for peanuts compared to Toronto and where good lifestyles can be had. Mommy’s basement should be a last resort, and a short term refuge while you dust off the wreckage and plan relaunch.