Why living at home sucks

For the last five years I’ve been, more or less, on my own. No one cared what I did, where I went or when I got home. I liked it that way. For an independent spirit, there’s really nothing like being able to make your own rules.

That all changed in May when I returned to Colorado to live under my parents’ roof. Yes, I’d be saving money on rent. Yes, I’d be saving money on food bills. Yes, I wouldn’t have to pay for the electric, water, internet or cable.

But there are other things that come with living at home, things that make all the positives seem pretty dull and not really worth the effort.

All the old rules apply, no matter how old you are, you are now living under the parentals’ roof, and you have to play their game. Woe be it unto you if you fail to follow those rules. You have to tell them what, when, how, why, and who. You have to let them know when you’ll be back and who you’re going with. You have to let them know if the plans change. At 23, I don’t want to be living at home. This isn’t my choice. But I also don’t want to be answering to the higher powers and giving them my detailed itinerary.

House chores are obligatory. You’re living at home, most likely rent free, so now you’re guilt tripped into doing housework. I’m { } that close to being on a most viewed list at Home Depot and Lowes. But I can’t get out of it because now that I’m living at home and sucking up energy, I feel obligated to help out.

Forced social oibligations are another reason living at home sucks. I’ve spent more time with people over the age of 50 than I have with people in my own peer set. My parents’ friends can be fun, but I’m young and want to go out and have a good time. Unfortunately most of my friends either a.) aren’t here. B.) aren’t old enough to go out. Or c.) are old enough to go out, but don’t like going out. So I never get to meet anyone new, and I get to find out all sorts of strange things about “The Big Change” and teaching and the youth of America.

Case in point. I went out with my friends today to go white water rafting. It was AWESOME. I had a blast on the river. We had fun just joking around and having a agood time. When I got off the river, I failed to call my mother and inform her of that. Because I’d been gone all day (even though I got up all by myself, showered, got dressed and ate breakfast with out the assistance of an adult or anyone to hold my hand) I was expected to call home and report on my status. I was expected to report in even though NO ONE ELSE DID and I was the oldest in our group. One other girl’s mother got mad, but she’s getting ready to leave for college and mom is about six seconds from seeing her baby fly the nest. My mother has seen me fly the nest. She shouldn’t be having these problems. Instead of dealing with my not calling after one hour of frantic phone calls (I hate the electric leash (cell phone) and so didn’t have it with me) they call A FRIEND OF MINE and get the numbers of people on the trip with me and call THEM. Ugh!!!!!

Then of course, after a blow out of this magnitude, people spend days walking on eggshells. Mom bawls, or tries not to, every time she talks to me. I think she's stressing because I don't have a job, she's getting ready to start school back up, my brother just lost his job Saturday night, and then got bitten by two dogs yesterday.

It was a great weekend with some rotten side effects.

I need a vacation from life.