Some moved back to take care of their parents or loved ones who were sick. Those who are parents saved not only rent but also child care. Most people wanted to be with those you love, and who love you fully. We were in the middle of a new pandemic where threats of death became part of daily life.
Take these as reminders of who you were back then, and how much you’ve changed and grown. Where there are mementos of your younger self- a 4th grade spelling award or a poster of your favorite band in high school. But there’s also something special especially about moving back to a home in which you grew up in. All of these factors were influenced by the pandemic. It may be living away from parents, having a career, being financially independent, or starting one’s own family. There are different factors that go into an individual’s sense of being an adult. How can we manage a somewhat rocky return to “normal” life, after we’ve had transformative experiences that have changed our very sense of self?Īdulting, across all age groups, is hard: doing your own laundry, figuring out what to eat for dinner, interacting with a difficult coworker or peer, being responsible for or having another depend on you. Their apartments haven’t changed, but they have. Now that many people are again leaving their parents’ homes, they are returning to a familiar state that feels unfamiliar.
By removing a lot of the social noise and having basic securities taken care of, many young people were in a liminal space where they could take on adult responsibilities (finding a job, doing chores, paying rent, ct) while also going through a crisis together. The closing of bars, clubs, parties, and clubs were isolating and jarring, but many young people used the time introspectively to reflect on their friendships and what they want out of life. And while one might anticipate a regression to their younger selves, I’ve seen most all of them become much closer to their core-their values and identities. They argued, grieved, and protested for awhile. I’ve been fascinated, watching my young adult patients (18-25 years old) parlay their independence while moving in with parents.