Here in the US, living with your parents is considered unusual.
We know people living with their parents to save money, be close to them, or take care of them for a short time. But we don’t usually live with our parents, as adults, unless we want to or don’t have a choice.
In the Philippines, living with your parents is the standard practice.
It is expected that you stay with your parents, even when you have your own family. Moving out is almost unthinkable.
But they don’t just stay together because of their close family ties. In a lot of cases, living with parents is also about survival.
Their parents help take care of their kids. The adult child’s salary helps pay for their parents’ expenses.
Here’s what a typical Filipino family looks like, as shared by one of my new writers.
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My husband, son, and I live with my parents. They’re both seniors and retired. My parents “own” our house, but we’re informal settlers, really. We don’t pay rent, but if the government or any rich person decides to buy our area and kick us out, we’d have no choice but to comply. I’m hoping to earn enough in a few years so that we can move and not have that thought hanging over our heads in the future.
My husband and I used to rent in another city before the pandemic started. But when the lockdown was announced, my mother begged us to come back and stay with them because she and my dad were scared of being alone during that time.
I know that in the US, children are expected to leave the nest the moment they turn 18. But here, staying with one’s parents isn’t just encouraged; it’s expected. (Maybe not so much for the younger generations, though.)
But staying with my parents has been mutually beneficial. When my husband and I go out for errands, for example, we don’t have to worry about burglars because someone’s always home. My husband and I also learned practical life skills from my dad (one of my proudest moments was when I managed to install multiple ceiling lights using a parallel circuit).
My mom and I also take turns cooking. And I know everyone says this about their moms, but my mom is an amazing cook.
It’s just a great comfort to all of us having my parents by our side. I get to watch over them and care for them in their old age, and they get to watch their grandkids grow and care for them in return. (My only sibling and his family live nearby and visit often.)
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This situation is easier for Filipinos working from home. I can just imagine how difficult it is if they have to commute for hours or go abroad for work.
This is the reason why more and more Filipinos are turning to Onlinejobs.ph to find work. We now have around 3 million profiles. Working from home lets them take care of their parents.
This is why I know you can find ANY type of worker that you need for your business at Onlinejobs.ph.
John