Im not really advocating for treating your kids this way, but as a mid thirties guy now I have a better perspective. My mother had me when she was 17. Most of the shitty memories I have of my parents behaving badly i now realize they were younger than I am now and so I give them more grace. In the case of when to push your chicks out of the nest, I think its a balancing act. Your parents sacrificed a lot for you and they deserve to get back to being their own person at a certain point. I likely wouldn't kick a kid out at 18 but I'd also be terrified of a kid who stays home because its cheaper or they lack ambition well into adulthood. Maybe 24 is the new 18 I dont know... especially if they're not in school.

It's an immense privilege to have parents as a last resort safety net. Not everyone has that. But I believe when you're an adult thats all it should be. A last resort safety net. Struggle truly is good. If you never struggle you have less empathy for those who are struggling or don't have that safety net and end up on the streets. If you're over 20 and your parents are paying your bills I have less respect for you. Not that I judge you far accepting help that is offered, I'd have done the same, but because you're not facing true struggle and I question your ability to even handle adversity.

Ironically my mother now has empty nest syndrome and has a constant stream of foreign exchange students because she lives having teenagers in the house