I return home after a long day of work at the hospital. "Dinner's ready," mum says as she breezes by into the kitchen. Dad sits in a corner watching animal videos on YouTube at full volume.
I go into my room and change out of my scrubs. As per mum's instructions, these go into a separate pile for de-germing with Dettol before joining the rest of the family's laundry.
"You forgot to switch off the lights when you went out today," my mum remarks as she picks out chilli padi with her chopsticks. "And remember what I told you about the charging wire? Hook it over the armrest of the couch - don't just leave it dangling on the floor like that."
"Yes, mum," I sigh.
After doing the dishes, I go into my room and try to meditate. The screeching of macaws from the living room reminds me of my earthly existence.
As much as I love my parents, there are times at home when I have to involuntarily shut my eyes for a moment and breathe.
Living with your parents as a grown adult is difficult - ask any young person and they would agree. As we shed our skins from our plump pubescent days and hurtle towards an age of aspirational independence and solidifying personhood, it is only natural that we demand greater autonomy over our daily routines, living preferences and lifestyles.
In many countries, translocation is part and parcel of young adulthood. People uproot themselves from their home towns to attend university in big cities and frequently shift between states in search of better jobs or opportunities.
Singapore is unique as a society on the moving-out front, with 97 per cent of unmarried individuals between the ages of 15 and 34 residing with their parents as at 2013, a statistic unheard of in other countries.
Denne historien er fra September 22, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
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Denne historien er fra September 22, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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The many sides of library pioneer Hedwig Anuar and other authors
Those who know the National Library's former director Hedwig Anuar, 95, as a pioneer of Singapore's library system or women's rights activism will glimpse a different side of her in her newly published early writings.
Chef Jamie Oliver pulls children's book after indigenous criticism
British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver (right) has announced he will no longer sell his children's book, after coming under fire for what indigenous critics called \"erasure, trivialisation and stereotyping\".
Dua Lipa cancels Indonesia leg of tour over unsafe staging
British-Albanian singer Dua Lipa has cancelled the Indonesian leg of her Asian tour, citing unsafe staging.
Actress Sheila Sim undergoes hair transplant procedure to fix 'prominent bald spot'
Local actress-model Sheila Sim is feeling less stress over her tresses after undergoing a two-day hair transplant procedure.
Blackpink's Lisa keeps it short and sweet at Marquee
Below disco balls and flashing stage lights, Lisa from K-pop girl group Blackpink made a glittering appearance in the early hours of Nov 10 at Marquee Singapore nightclub in Marina Bay Sands.
Invisible Habitudes returns to Singapore stage with stronger cohesion
After almost six years, choreographer and The Human Expression (T.H.E) Dance Company's founding artistic director Kuik Swee Boon's Invisible Habitudes returned to the Singapore stage, with a mix of original cast members and new performers, but surprisingly with an even stronger sense of cohesion.
Tech Talks foster conversations around technology and storytelling
The Singapore Writers Festival (SWF) continues building out conversations around the intersection of technology and storytelling.
SSO's most exciting and memorable Beethoven concert yet
The idea of a concert comprising wholly works by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) is hardly new, yet a fully packed Victoria Concert Hall showed that the great German composer still has a special cachet among concertgoers.
Singapore is a city of 'future past,' says Paolo Giordano
The Italian author is among the 300 people who have been invited to speak or conduct workshops at the festival
BANG FOR YOUR BUCK
Comparing prices, researching products - parents can help their kids learn how to shop responsibly
