As parents, we sometimes feel sad about the day when our children will grow up and leave us, but if you live in the States, recent research is revealing that you might be worrying for nothing.
Because when our kids spread their wings and fly they don’t go very far.
According to data from the University of Michigan’s Health and Retirement Study analyzed by the New York Times, American adults live an average of 18 miles from their mothers – and only 20% of Americans live more than a few hours from their parents (by car).
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The main reason is that we rely on our families for financial and practical support, but it also true that as education and incomes have declined, Americans have become less mobile overall, says economist Robert A. Pollak.
“It speaks to a class divide in the population. Particularly as you go further down the socioeconomic scale, people are living pretty close to their parents, and this means they’re able to provide help.”
Image Credit: Pixabay
The median distance is higher on the West Coast an in the Mountain states and closest in the Northeast and South, with a 2010 Pew Research Center report supporting the findings with these of their own: 37% of Americans have never lived outside their hometown and 57% have never left their home state.
With an aging generation of baby boomers who will need of care-taking, the trend is expected to continue – not to mention that high childcare costs can make being near grandparents essential for households where both parents work.
Image Credit: Pixabay
You can read more at The Upshot, including how your own state stacks up.
Me? I’m 5 minutes from mom, and with 2 little kids, I can’t imagine going further in the near future!
