Don't get me wrong, I enjoy being human. Though it might be tempting to exhibit animal-like behavior (such as hibernating all winter or sticking your head in the sand), this is not recommended if you are a contributing member of the human race.
I have noticed, however, that not everyone is really big on becoming a "contributing" member. Some children have decided to permanently live at home whilst employed at dead-end jobs. What boggles my mind is that their parents willingly take care of them. I don't understand this. Fledgelings must leave the nest. They must learn to fly. Clipping their wings means that when you, the parent birds, die, then they, the fledgelings, will starve to death in the nest you built. Then those dying big baby birds that resemble adults will think, "Why didn't you leave me more regurgitated food?"
Keeping your children as childlike as long as possible so you feel needed is not loving and caring in any way. Perhaps my perspective on this differs from the local norm because after I graduated college and moved back home (only because I couldn't find employment) my parents had Rules that, as someone who wanted to be independent, really rankled. I had to pay rent, I couldn't invite people over, I couldn't disrupt the parents' routine, and my curfew wasn't fun. So, no, I did NOT want to live with my parents forever. In fact, I will do almost anything to ensure that I never have to move in with them again.
So my suggestion is this: encourage your children to leave home and make their own way in life, but kindly. Society will thank you for it. Women who are seeking actual men to date will be happier that there are some in the dating pool, instead of so many boys (of varying ages who should know better, but choose not to). And girls who are helpless aren't great dating material, either, and make even worse steady girlfriends, wives, and mothers. But, hey, if you want your child(ren) to starve once their inheritance runs out, by all means, keep doing that thing where you stifle their growth.
I completely agree. I recently saw a quote that said something like "It is not what you do for your children, but what you teach them to do for themselves that matters."
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