Celebration or Crying 

Recently I wrote a post about being a parent for 21 years and just when you think you have passed all the milestones in your children’s lives another one comes along, but they are no longer children’s milestones. They’re adult milestones and I have reached another milestone in my life as a parent. One which I’m not sure whether to celebrate or break down sobbing uncontrollably!

My eldest daughter, J,who is my first born will always be my little girl. I know she is 21, but she will always be my little girl, in my head. She has decided to move in with her bloke, ok boyfriend! This is actually making me feel a bit old and worries me how quickly time passes. Where has the time gone? It’s a massive moment not only for her, but for me as well. It really does only seem like yesterday that she was starting school. Now she wants to move in with her fella.

On a more Serious point this is a wonderful moment. This is the time that she takes full independence and responsibility for herself. To completely control her own finances and make sure all her bills are paid on time. All of this really has to be admired.

Her boyfriend is a lovely bloke who I know will look after her and they do seem to get on very well and are very well suited and if truth be known if they’re happy then that’s all that matters.

It will be a huge learning curve for both of them. Living with someone can at times be difficult. But I’m sure they will work everything out happily.

For their first home together they will be renting and of course this is the generation of renters.

In a country like the UK where there is an obsession to buy your own home which I have never understood why. Maggie Thatcher does have a lot to answer to. The reality is, what chance do young people have to buy their own home? 20k deposit! How can they save that and live at the same time? Banks are under enormous pressure and regulations not to lend money unless you fit the criteria, and as I have mentioned you then need a huge deposit which is impossible to save if you are renting.

Where is this affordable housing for young people starting out? In my opinion it is simply not there and banks won’t lend enough money with all the restrictions nowadays.

Even if you managed to save enough money the chances are you will have to move miles from where you grew up because that’s all you can afford and that means living miles away from family unless of course you rent. The generation of renters is going to get bigger and bigger as less of them can afford to get on the housing ladder.

Good luck to my daughter J and her boyfriend. I’m sure they will be very happy. No children yet! I’m not ready to be a grandad just yet because that would make me feel old haha!