Now now, theres nothing wrong with mummy tucking you in at night, brushing your hair back and giving you a well deserved peck on your 34 year old cheek then tidying away your FHM mags and reading to you and your future wife, before turning out the light is there?

I am again living in my parents home, this time with my brother. My mother passed away and my father remarried and now lives with his new wife in her home. My daughter and son-in-law live in a home there in New Zealand that he, his sister and their mother are buying jointly. I own two small houses here in the USA myself, but because of closer proximity to my work and because my younger brother (now 46 years old and on disability) needs some supervision, I've rebounded to my parents home for the third time in my life. I rebounded after a divorce, I rebounded again when I changed jobs and this time I've rebounded to care for the home and watch over my brother. There are lots of reasons for grown children to live with their parents or in their parents home, not all of which are necessarily indicators of immaturity. I'm a firm believer in multi-generational living, although some boundaries need to be set for it to be a happy arrangement for all concerned. One is that when adults are living together, that they be responsible for their own behavior and actions. Mom is not the chief cook and bottle washer who is supposed to clean up behind grown children nor is she supposed to be the assumed built-in babysitter for the grandchildren or the community bank of mom. Moms are not supposed to usurp their grown children's parenting responsibilities of the grandchildren either. There needs to be some degree of separation, even physically in the house if possible for the sake of privacy. And a mutual respect for one's space is absolutely important. It's almost always best if families can live in close proximity without actually living in the same house, but when that's not possible, it's economically smarter and often emotionally healthier to share the home with extended family, especially as parents age and need more assistance. I fully expect that if my new stepmother should pass away or my father need caregiving assistance that she can't provide to him, that he would return to the family home and live here with my brother and myself. There is no way I would want him to live in an isolated environment without family to keep him company and take care of him as he ages. It's not just the grown children who are benefitting from shared housing. Just my thoughts. Cathy

My parents home is always my home. I am so tired of rude and crass New Zealanders who think they have the right to toss out words like loser! Not everyone is the same as you! Also the census is to vague in the descriptions. Those of us that have more than one answer to a question know what I mean. This article does not give you the right to talk about other people you know and trash them.

@B McFarlane

When can I move in?

mel #125

You get my vote for Female of the Year..

What are you like at cooking eggs? lol

I am moving back home very soon after 2 1/2 years out of the country and am really looking forward to living with my parents for a bit because it means i will see more of my fam again, which i've really missed. It's not an arrangement i see carrying on long-term but if you have a family arrangement where you share the jobs and expenses it's a lot like flatting and really nice for everyone. I lived with my parents for 6 months before i left nz. when i moved back in i found my relationship with them was very different to when i was growing up, we got on as grown-ups, i didnt need to be told to do my bit (and then some because i appreciated more how much they did for me over the years), and they were a lot more relaxed and less anxious and parenty. it was really nice and im looking forward to living with them for a little bit longer when im back. Just because your living with the parents doesnt mean you fall into your old roles. And i'm sure most people dont but those who do are missing out, its a lot nicer to get to know them as people.

I wonder how many kiwi girls live with their dads?

I live in argentina where it is not uncommom for children to live at home well into there 30's or until they are married, and sometimes when they get married the new wife moves into the family home also.. so you have parents, children and grand children all living under the same roof. This is very common in latin society. The flip side of this is when the parents are old they are not packed off to the old peoples home or retirement village like is often the case in NZ or other western countries..

any spare room there ?

Sad! When you've earned enough, move OUT!