Would moving home with your parents be a dream or a nightmare? Depends on which confessor you ask.

This week’s stories (11:38) come from people between the ages of 31 to 45 residing throughout New York, California, and Oregon. Each of them is — or was until recently — living with their parents as an adult. I was too, until I was 28.

While the cost of living crisis played a major role in their decisions to move home, medical conditions, career changes, and relationship status factored in too. Some describe the experience as comforting and deeply healing; others admit it’s been infantilizing or emotionally complicated. But nearly all agree that multigenerational living offers benefits beyond saving money: community, relief from isolation, love, and the time and space to pursue hobbies, creative ambitions, and more meaningful ways of existing.

Most of all, it’s encouraged them to reconsider America’s traditional definition of “adulthood” — and question whether independence, productivity, and constant striving are really the only markers of a successful life.

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Share your own story at confessions@aliweissworld.com. If you love the show, please take a moment to leave a rating & review: it’s immensely helpful for expanding our community of confessors!

Tales of Taboo is produced and hosted by Ali Weiss. Follow Ali on Instagram & TikTok @aliweissworld. Sound mixing by Cedric Wilson. Theme song by Chris Stathopolous. Cover photo by Erika Flynn. Cover art by Kristen Montenegro.