Becoming Independent Gifts

'Dad, when do I stop being a wholly owned susidiary of you and Mom?'

And so Bob's folks sent him off into the world. But not before running a few last tests, just to be sure he could handle it.

"I've got my own place now, but I still rely on my parents to regurgitate my meals."

"My son's a commonwealth - I give him money to be independent."

"Somehow, Daniel, you're not as cute as you used to be, and you're beginning to lose our attention."

"Oh, don't jump. But at least learn to code."

"Come on Mum, I'm fully grown-up, surely you can let my friend come between you and me safely..."

'Don't try to talk me out of it, Pop. I've decided it's time for me to move out.'

Maturity Strikes

"Just dropped by to do my groceries."

Cellphone Islands

Pony express. Pony express yourself. Pony express yourself so much he left.

"Yeah, you could say I've got mother issues....she told me I have to move out!"

"My parents said that until I find a job and move out they will not recognize me as a sentient being."

"I'm leaving. It's just way too much collaborating."

'What about you...you've been living here thirty years too?'

"Your mother and I think it's time you got a place of your own. We'd like a little time alone before we die."

"Your mother and I want to make your 21st birthday a moving experience. We'll help you pack."

"Sorry kid, I work alone."

"He says he's not running away. . . he's just going off the grid."

'She knew we'd try to talk her-out of it.'

Signing the declaration of independence.

"All I ask is a chance to ruin my life in my own way."

'I'm sorry Timmy, but if I keep going for help, you'll never learn to take care of yourself,'

Having installed a hydraulically operated wall in their 25-year-old's bedroom...

"Lost most of my sight, hearing, teeth and hair. Thank God I still god my driver license."

What's your most popular drink? Why do you want to know? Why base your order on what other people are buying? Don't be a follower. Be your own man. If you're unfamiliar with a drink, ask what's in it and decide for yourself whether that sounds good. Or better yet, live a little. Take a risk. Choose a drink you've never had at random and see where it takes you. You only have one life. Don't live it following in the footsteps of other people. That's kind of harsh. No, it's the name of the drink.

Ethanol and foreign oil.

'Male, 38, still living with his parents. They asked us to keep him overnight, so they could change the locks.'

"You have to let me make my own mistakes."

"Honey who needs a man when you've got... Rhythm!"

"To heck with a husband... just help me find a dependable electrician."

"First buttons, then zippers, now we learn to tie our shoes. Is mom trying to tell us something?"

'I want to go out of town so that I can become a fully independent person, but near enough so that I can bring my laundry home.'

'I find the best way to get them to grow up is to buy them a 1-way ticket to Europe, and let them work their way back.'