Why kids move back home after college

Parenting expert Harry H. Harrison Jr., explains why so many kids move home after college and shares advice on how to keep them from doing so
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Why kids move back home after college

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A National epidemic we have right now is adults moving home. In fact, 50 percent of all adults between 24-30, move home. There's like 40 percent of adults, under the age of 40 that move home. Why are they moving home? First of all, they've had a perfect childhood and adulthood isn't so perfect. We've done a bad job of preparing children for adulthood. When they get out in the world, apartments are smaller. Kids assume that they are just going to pick up the lifestyle of their parents at 22. They are going to pick up the three-car garage, the swimming pool, the 60 inch TV; and they can't. It just isn't going to happen. They are not prepared for smaller apartments. They are not prepared for smaller cars. They are not prepared for angry bosses. They are not going to be able to go out clubbing every night. They are just not prepared to face life on their own terms at 21. They get discouraged and move home. What we need to do is prepare them for the real world. We need to reinforce the idea, when you leave the house, you are not going to be living on daddy's money. You are not going to be living off of $150,000 a year. You are going to be living off of $22,000 a year. You are going to be paying for a smaller apartment. You are probably going to be riding the bus. The problems you have now, you are probably going to have the next three years. We need to lower their expectations that we see on MTV, with the 21 year old living a glamorous life. It's just not going to happen. They think it should happen and they think something is wrong when it doesn't happen. In fact, everything is perfectly normal. This is the way life is and they will be fine. But because they've never struggled in life, they have been giving everything. They think that if life isn't the way it is shown in Hollywood, something is wrong and they move home.
TEEN, Responsibilities, Moving Out

Parenting expert Harry H. Harrison Jr., explains why so many kids move home after college and shares advice on how to keep them from doing so

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Expert Bio

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Harry H. Harrison Jr.

Best-Selling Parenting Author

Harry Harrison is the New York Times best-selling author of some of the most well known parenting books in the world.  He has appeared on television shows across the country, been interviewed on over 50 national radio programs including NPR, and is a regular contributor to websites like Dr. Laura.com, Sheknows.com, parentingpink.com, storknet.com, and sharecare.com (a collaboration between Dr. Oz and Dr. Phil).

His books aren’t the normal narrative read, but concise, sometimes hilarious, sometimes poignant chunks of inspiration and advice that parents read and reread over again. He has also written two eBooks directed towards college students to guide and motivate them to earn a college degree.  Mr. Harrison and his wife, Melissa, have raised two incredible sons.

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