No topic is more divisive among parents: some young people go to college in another city before their 20th birthday, while others leave home at the quarter century mark. All of these solutions have pros and cons

–Early starts can be a therapeutic shock, but many benefit. If a child moves out on his or her own early in life, he or she will live in a rather difficult environment for the first few years. Even if they go home for the weekend, they should be prepared for their room or apartment to be a cross between a squat, an art studio, and a dump. On the other hand, this is a real school of life. Young people will quickly learn to fend for themselves, perhaps even learn how to cook a little and get along with their landlords. Furthermore, once they start earning extra money to pay the rent, they will quickly learn the hardships of balancing work, school, and play.

–A cool start, or a child moving out around age 25, is still probably the most common model. For most children, this moment comes when they find their first serious relationship and learn that living with their parents has its drawbacks. A later start has the advantage of already having a nest egg who can at least keep the apartment somewhat tidy and who won\’t call you in the middle of the night to tell you how to run the washing machine or what a wrench is.

–The latecomers are primarily those who want to save money before taking the plunge. These people are not concerned with cheap, low-quality sublets as long as they can continue to live with their families and save for themselves. These people are not necessarily Mammy; they are often comfortable doing things for themselves, but they don\’t feel the need to rush into anything. On the other hand, there are those who really don\’t want to give up their mommy skirts.