If you can’t stand the thought of your little chicks growing wings and flying the nest some day, you’ll take heart in the latest research to reach us from America.
Apparently, the average American adult lives just 18 miles from their mother. And only one fifth of those surveyed lived more than a few hours away from their parents.
According to the University of Michigan’s Health and Retirement Study, lower incomes have made American families less mobile, meaning they are relying on each other for practical support more than ever before.
Speaking about the findings, economist Robert A. Pollak told the New York Times: “It speaks to a class divide in the population. Particularly as you go further down the socioeconomic scale, people are living pretty close to their parents, and this means they’re able to provide help.”
The outcome is that everybody benefits: baby boomers have dependable care nearby and can live at home for longer as they enter their later years, while double income couples can access childcare when they need it.
According to the study, people with a college degree were more likely to live further away from their parents.
Did you make a special effort to live near your mum when you started a family? Tell us about it on Twitter @HerFamilydotie.
