When is an adult child absolutely too old to be financially dependent on their parents?
An adult child is never too old to be financially dependent on his or her parents. From my observation, there has been a societal change. As DD points out, “In the good ole days, the child could be expected to be out on their own and have a career by the time they were 20 at the latest!” Society still cherishes rugged individualism, but like a lot of our most exalted values, practice doesn’t work out as well as the theory. Parents increasingly suffer pangs of “empty nest” syndrome while more children become “boomerang” kids when they can’t hack it in the real world. Psychology Today explains the phenomenon of delayed adulthood: http://cms.psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-2993.html “…young adults are returning home in increasing numbers–following graduation, the dissolution of a relationship or the loss of a job. They often live rent-free and subsidized, with no scheduled date for departure. But while much attention has been paid to live-at-home “adultescents,” little has been said a
IF they are capable of working and are in good health adult children are absolutely too old to be financially dependent on parents. Taking money on a constant basis without regard for their parents financial situation is both selfish and disrespectful. It is indeed a reflection on parents who are willing perhaps, to go into debt in order to relieve some sort of guilt and misguided responsibility. An adult child is just that an adult. He or she is not entitled to be provided for if they are capable of providing for themselves. Having children does not mean keeping them as babies for the rest of their lives. To grow into a healthy adult there must be some independent financial resources created by the adult child. If it means losing some pride and doing work that is considered too menial then so it should be. For adult children to gain confidence and stability, as well as a measure of independence and self-respect parents must encourage them to work for a living rather than be a parental
