Coming Home…
Before COVID-19 began sweeping the nation, I was just like any other independent young adult living in a new city away from their parents. My city happened to be Richmond, Virginia, where I was working to build a life and reputation of my own. Now, in the midst of the uncharted times of COVID-19, my once bustling Friday nights have been reduced to sitting across from my parents on a stiff couch watching Cary Grant films and discussing the specifics of my dental plan. My 30-year-old sister, who is also back home, is never far, too often perturbed by the limited vegetarian options at home. And it has been nostalgically pleasing! While independent adulthood has it charms and returning home can seem restrictive, I would urge you to consider this perspective. There’s no better place to reset mentally, emotionally, and financially than at the place where it all began, your childhood home. In addition to saving on groceries and utilities, it’s been wonderful to sit at home with loved ones and reflect on the past, discuss the present, and pray for the future. I now usually awake to a wonderful breakfast (courtesy of my mother) as opposed to a bowl of cereal or granola bar. I enjoy an early morning telephonic yoga session, where I used to be glued to a computer monitor, and I still get to enjoy the voices of my colleagues throughout the day by way of conference calls. I somberly ponder how life would be if I were doing this on my own, but fortunately, I find myself like the other 2.7 million Americans 25 and younger, living with new roommates, MY PARENTS. Unfortunately, many young Americans haven’t had a choice during this global pandemic and were forced home for financial reasons. Nevertheless, in order to make this transition smoother, consider these recommendations from the renowned psychotherapist and family therapy expert, Dr. Jenn Mann: Consider paying rent to your parents. Dr. Mann believes that if you’re still earning a salary, you should have a conversation with your parents about your household contribution. Think of it as a fee for [...]