At what age do children usually leave or are asked to leave home?

[Hugh Jass]

The guy next door still lives with his mommy and daddy and he's a 34 year old highschool teacher. Not a social outcast at all, just his mommy is a very strong woman that seems to control his life. Mother-in-law from hell when the time comes. He has a gf now so he might move shortly.

[Le Loon]

I was thrown out when I was 14. I'm turning 31 pretty soon.

My daughter can stay with me as long as she likes.

[Mars2012]

I think a lot of young adults have no choice other than stay at home. Housing is really expensive in some areas; I know it is in my city, anyway. I've always encouraged my children to stay home and get a good education. Then, hopefully, they will get a good job and can move out. I would rather they stay a little longer than to move away and then come back as much older adults, possibly with young children in tow. I know two people who are taking care of their grandchildren because their children cannot. That would be my nightmare.

I have three teenagers living at home right now. I don't mind them too much, except for the oldest one, a girl who is snarky beyond belief. She's too smart to leave home without a good education/job and too stupid to realize just how good she has it.

[alanbrenton]

I was thrown out when I was 14. I'm turning 31 pretty soon.

My daughter can stay with me as long as she likes.

I think a lot of young adults have no choice other than stay at home. Housing is really expensive in some areas; I know it is in my city, anyway. I've always encouraged my children to stay home and get a good education. Then, hopefully, they will get a good job and can move out.

Precisely the same sentiment for me. She's welcome to stay as long as she wants. Not sure if I want to have my future son-in-law come living with us for the first few years though but this will likely depend on his demeanor. Maybe I will have some say when the dating age finally arrives? I'm sure not taking care of my grandchildren in the future.

[Rainne]

Depends on culture

Generalities:

Western - usually when you're able to rent, around 18 - early 20s

Eastern - usually when you're able to buy a property, late 20s

[bugsbunny01]

In my experience, I not only moved out when i was 20, i moved from europe to canada, on my own. My DAD always said that i was more than welcomed to return, that he would be open arms to accept me back. IT was my choice to leave. Not an easy one, not like i can visit them everyday. It has been eight years. Now with a daughter that is 3, and a baby boy on its way i want to teach my kids to the best me and my wife can. They can stay with us for as long as they need.
My parents raised me that way.
one of my brothers moved out 1 year after he got married, the3y were able to save to buy their own place and my parents were very supportive for that. My sister moved out right before she got married. And my older brother who is almost 40 lives with my parents, He is single and also travels a lot in business. Helps my parents with expenses. he has a good career but no need yet to buy his own place.

My dad also left home when he was 16 and emigrated to a different country, went back home to get married to my mom and they moved out right way as soon as my dad finished builting their house. my mom was "sent" to her godfather care at the age of 4 because they couldnt provide for so many kids(back in the late 1940's)..

6 different examples and situations

[divx]

18

[chimaican]

I don't get parents who say they want to 'get their life back' and so the kids need to be gone by X-age. What do they mean by 'get their life back'? Do these people not love their children? To me it sounds as if they consider their children a burden for the last 18+ years. Selfish people IMO, they shouldn't have had children at all then if all they want to do is kick them out so they can get on with their lives.

Anyways... I think as long as grown children (i.e. adults) are contributing to the family home then they can stay as long as they want. I lived with my parents until I was 29 which included an entire year with my wife. Before I was married I was expected to continue with participating in household chores as well as pay basic rent & help with groceries. It was a reasonable request and I would have done so even if my parents didn't ask. If I was living elsewhere I'd being paying rent or a mortgage. This way I was able to have a roof over my head and was still able to save for my own home as the rent I was expected to pay was only like $400-500 a month. When my wife moved in (we were still looking for a home to purchase), she also helped around the home and gave money to pay for household bills.

I will do the same with my children as long as they understand that just because they still live at home (post-graduate) it doesn't mean that it's a free ride.

[nalababe]

Getting life back doesn't mean that one thought of the kids as a burden; rather it is putting priority back on ones self instead of the kids.

If you are at home at 29 then you are the focus...either directly or indirectly. All actions still have to have you in their consideration.

It doesn't mean that they love their kids less...some would say more as we want them to experience life away from home

...even if it is financially difficult.

[Manatus]

In my experience, I not only moved out when i was 20, i moved from europe to canada, on my own.

Same. In my opinion, when I became an adult, I stopped being a child. When I started a family, it became my new family. I personally value my independence very highly and I left home as soon as I could, basically. I don't think there's such a thing as the bad economy preventing people from living outside of the family home, it's just a question of priorities. I chose to live in an extremely illegal basement apartment for peanuts, because I couldn't afford very many peanuts. Ok, part of this of course is that I wanted to live in Canada, but even had that not happened I would rather live poor as an independent adult, than live rich with my parents in a big house. They didn't want me to leave, they still would have me back - no problems with the relationship at all, it's really up to the individuals involved I think.

[JK400]

My kids will be out on their asses at 16 working in the mines or a call centre somewhere. If they try to come back for any reason they will promptly find new locks on the doors and a warrant out for their arrest for trespassing.

[coolspot]

They can stay as long as they like, but once they land a job, they should pay rent.

[hagbard]

Rule number One. Never take life lessons from a TV "Doctor". Seriously, they're all morons. Most of them don't even have degrees in the fields they're talking on, hear me Dr. Phil (the lawyer). I wouldn't set any sort of time table, that's up to the people involved.