You're HOW old and you live with your parents?

1999.  The first single off of TLC's "Fanmail" album is released.  No Scrubs.  Two simple words.  It was a song about a woman who didn't want a guy who didn't have his own car, didn't pay his own bill, and lived at home with his mama.  Although no one really plays the song or calls men "scrubs" anymore, the sentiment still remained.  No woman or man wanted a mate that couldn't do for themselves.

Fast forward to 2011.  Our nation's economy is in shambles.  People who have degrees are jobless, some homeless.  People are getting laid off left and right and finding a new job often takes months or years.  Some still haven't found new jobs.  And let's not act like people in this country save for a rainy day.  Sure, some of us do, but others have credit card debts nearly as big as their yearly salaries, and save very little.  Many people are one paycheck from being homeless.

Still it seems many people are stuck on whether or not someone lives with the parents.  I am in the progress of moving... back to my parents' house.  I've got things going on that I won't get into here, but the best decision was to move back in with them.  For the most part, no 20-something really wants to move back into their parents home.  You won't be able to live the way you used to live.  You may not have a curfew, but coming in  5am is disrespectful and will surely lead to some discord.  Unless you are in a position to help with bills, you get no say over what the temperature is, what brand of orange juice is in the fridge or whether the Charmin is soft or strong.  All of these things are reasons I'll miss living on my own, along with the freedom my pets have in my home.  What I will miss most though is the freedom to walk around the house naked.  Don't judge me, you know you like to be naked too!

Moving home in your *cough* late 20s sucks, but honestly, it's not just a curse, it's a blessing.  I am very thankful to have parents who are in a position to be able to take in my 2 dogs, 1 rather large cat and their grown daughter.  I'm thankful that despite not having a job currently my bills get paid, I have food to eat, and I have gas in my car.  

I guess at the end of the day, we should all think twice before judging-- or better yet not judge at all.  That guy who lives with his mother could have been recently laid off from a lucrative job, and is only living with her to cut his costs while searching for a new position.  Of course every person living with his/her parents isn't someone who fell victim to this country's horrible economy.  There are some lazy bums out there.  The key is being able to tell the difference.