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After being laid off from her job, Ann Bauer struggled financially. She worked at several lower-paid jobs,
relocated to a new city and even declared bankruptcy. Then in December, she finally moved back into her
parents' home at age 52. "I'm back living in the bedroom that I grew up in," she said.
Taking shelter with parents isn't uncommon for young people, especially when the job market is poor.
But now the declining economy is forcing some children to do so later in life-even at middle age.
Financial planners report receiving many calls from parents seeking advice about taking in their grown
children after divorces and lay-offs. Kim Erickson, a financial planner in California, said she has never seen
older children, even those at 50, depending so much on their parents as in the last six months."These are
40-and-50-year-old children of my clients that they're helping out. We have a hard time saying no as a culture
to our children, and they keep asking for more," she said.
Bauer's parents won't take rent money. She's trying to save several hundred dollars a month for a house
while working as a meeting coordinator. Bauer would prefer to live on her own, but without her parents' help,
she would "probably be renting again," she said."Buying groceries for another person isn't stretching my
budget too much," said her mother, Shirley Smith, aged 80.
Parents usually feel guilty if they don't offer help. But a large number of well-meaning parents must delay
retirement or scale back their dreams because they have to help their children, Erickson said. And the sliding
economy might threaten their jobs.
"I almost have to act like a financial therapist," she said to Shirley. "Here is the line I'm drawing for you.
That's fine. You can do up to this point, but at this point, now you're starting to erode ( 损害 ) your own
wealth."
1. From the passage, we can learn that _____.
A. middle-aged people even have fewer job opportunities than young people
B. few of American young people live with their parents
C. the rate of divorce in America is obviously on the increase
D. many parents are at a loss on dealing with grown children
2. How did Ann Bauer's parents act after learning about her situation?
A. They at first refused but finally allowed her to move back.
B. They didn't hesitate to invite her back home.
C. They allowed her back on condition that she bought groceries.
D. They preferred her to love on her own because of their tight budget.
3. What attitude does Erickson have towards aged parents helping their grown children?
A. She thinks it unnecessary.
B. She is in favor of it.
C. She thinks parents should be more careful with their savings.
D. Parents shouldn't feel guilty when failing to help their children.
4. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. American culture has an effect on the relationship between parents and children.
B. Children's dependence on their parents is increasing.
C. Sliding economy forces grown-ups to move to their parents' home.
D. Supporting grown children may put their parents' financial freedom at risk.
