25 reasons why you must live with your parents when you are an adult
2017
has been an unusually beautiful year for me. What added to its grace was
getting to live with my parents and granny every day for a whole year! It was indeed
a long time dream come true. As a typical Bhutanese practice, after completion
of my High school, I left home and my parents for college and university. Next,
life happened and I got caught up making a living and chasing my own dreams. Except
for a few days of vacation I took from work, I hardly got to spend time with my
parents after I became an adult and this is how I missed on a lot of things.
In
the one year of being with my parents, I thoroughly lived my dream and learnt
why it is so important to live with them especially after you are an
independent adult. As you grow older, you understand them better and appreciate
better all they do for you. Of course, almost the whole thing is to the benefit
of your own self, yet the tiny benefits they acquire make them so happy.
Well,
I certainly enjoyed getting totally pampered at this age (obviously not having
my siblings around doubled the pampering). I would wake up at 9:30 am on a
Sunday with my parents waiting for me with my favorite dish cooked and special
outdoor lunches followed. Another favorite moment I remember is my mum calling me out to come with a camera if she finds an unusual sky or an insect
or the clouds because she knows my obsession over photography. At times it
would be just a faint red light from the sky, but I used to take the picture anyway
just to acknowledge her. I have also enjoyed doing yoga with my super
cool dad and learned so many yoga positions. I can go on and on but let me just
state the 25 most important and common reasons why we should live with our
parents at least one time in our adulthood (in no order of importance):
1.
The purpose is different. You live with them not just for you but for also for them.
When you are younger, you don't have an alternative not to live with them since
you are fully dependent on them. While, when you are an
independent individual, you have a choice to rent an apartment or stay with
your friends, yet you choose to live with them. The whole
idea of choosing them over anything else is overwhelming.
2.
Your understanding about unconditional love and care is revived. When you are
an adult, you are in a better condition to truly appreciate and feel the
unconditional love and care you receive from your parents every day. This makes
you do better in everything.
3.
You understand them lot better. You are matured enough to do so.
4.
You will realize that they are the only people in the whole wide world who will
not be fed up and tired of seeing your face every day without changing their
feelings.
5.
You will feel more grateful about how the whole thing is taken care at home and
you will appreciate them more. If you get to eat good rice, organic veggies and
fruits regularly, it's time to show some gratitude, trust me they put in so
much of hard work and love in it.
6.
You are financially independent and you will be able to buy them things they
love that they won't buy for themselves.
7.
You have matured talks. Your discussions will never get boring. From work talks
to books to poetries, to news to policies to wars. You get to know and
understand their concerns better.
8.
You get to talk and discuss on future plans (both yours and theirs). You get to
give and receive genuine views and advices , get to know about their dreams and
get to share yours.
9.
After a stressful day at work, you will have someone to nag and vice versa.
Parents indeed know how to really nag better.
10.
If not for anything else, I really got my parents to relax during weekends. If
your parents are as hardworking as mine, you will totally get it. I ask them to
relax and simply do nothing at times just like me. And they obey :) Or take
them out for dinner at some good restaurant or simply go out for joy rides. Watch
random movies with them or play some soothing music for them. Anything really.
11.
And regardless of everything, you can still expect someone to cook your
favorite dish for you. (I mean who does that these days? Not me :P) Well that's
only because they are better cooks than I am. If you cook well, it's the best
gift you could ever give them. Cook for your parents their favorite dish, you
will feel so good.
12.
The fact that you are an adult says your parents are getting old. When you are
with them take care of them, take care of their diets, habits, support them
emotionally, take them to hospitals, do their laundry without making faces or
without being asked. Trust me, I felt really good.
13.
You get to relive your childhood - if there is anyone who think of you as a
baby at this age, it’s only your parents.
14.
You get called by your pet name every day.
15.
You get to share about your every day and listen to theirs - That's quite an
exchange of ideas actually, the generation gap debate. At times I end up
getting some really wise advises and at times they get to listen to my not - very
wise but different views which they appreciate anyway.
16.
If your parents don't have a companion at home other than themselves, be that
good third wheel they need sometimes. Give them some break from each other in a
healthy way. We are with them until we are big enough to take care of our own
selves, and as we grow they are but left alone to themselves. Of course it is
good to have them take care of each other, but at times they might want things
differently, a different voice to listen to, a different pair of ears to lend
an ear to, a different heart and a different mind to feel their feelings and
understand them differently.
17.
Be there for them in every little way possible. Do what you can do for them
which they can't or won't do. Make a difference in their lives. It can be as simple as helping
them out with their phones.
18.
Plan your travel. This is the right time to plan travel and travel with your
parents, firstly because they are not very old and they are in good health,
secondly because you are independent and fit enough to contribute to the plan
and also take better care of them.
19.
You get to be their stylist. In any kind of occasion, they will trust your
choice over theirs. I used to check and decide their clothes, shoes and bags
(for mum) for every occasion when I was home. Well, they used to do that for
you when you were a kid, it's time to repay :)
20.
I am usually a very interesting person to people I am close to. I know I don't
tell good jokes but I am somehow quite capable of making people laugh with my
dry, unusual and unexpected jokes and acts. I used to make my parents laugh their
tears out almost every day. Make them laugh.
21.
You get an opportunity to take and show some interest in their interest. If you
regret not doing something of their interest in your childhood, this is the
right time to pay back. I
personally hated farming and gardening as a child and always escaped it but as
I grew up, things changed a bit. Not that I love it now, today I feel proud of
my parent's interest, because of them we get to eat nutritious food. I personally
love picking chilies, taking pictures in their paddy field and climbing up the
fruit trees amongst others.
22.
Do you remember plucking their grey hair as a child? I do :) Do it, it feels
great. I have the fondest memories of doing that for pocket money. They hardly
had any that time though. Had it been now, my pouch sure would have sworn. Picking
their greys is yet another reminder of how they have aged.
23.
Go shopping together :). Hold their hands while crossing the roads - remember
they used to hold yours when you were a kid. I find it so cute and caring.
24.
Remember your parents are the only ones who are going to ask you if you need a companion
even to go to the restroom at night after a horror movie or if you have enough
money to buy even a packet of salt. Ask them the same, they will laugh off but I
noticed, they feel touched and really good when asked.
25.
They remember the tiniest of things you ask them to buy. Whenever they tell you
they need something, as simple as a pen or a tissue, note it and buy it for
them. They deserve all the love and care they provide us with and even more :)
