At 63, Serena is still unable to retire. Each day, she returns home to a mountain of dirty laundry. Among her seven children, three have yet to leave home: one 23-year-old is attending university, a 28-year-old is saving to buy a house, and her eldest, 34, recently returned after a mental health crisis.

"I feel like I've been a mother for too long, and I am truly exhausted," Serena admitted. She and her husband long for their own space and financial comfort in their later years, but instead face cramped living conditions and an unending burden of care.

Serena is among those affected by the growing "boomerang kids" trend, where adult children return to live with their parents. A study by Essex University indicates that 15% of young British adults aged 21-35 have returned home at least once after losing a job or ending a relationship.

Illustration: Guardian

Robert and his wife had planned extended travels after retirement. Their plans were derailed when their son lost his job and moved back in. Though reluctantly giving up a room for him, Robert admitted that daily life became awkward. "If he were 18, I'd guide him. But with an adult man, I can only offer limited concern because he doesn't like being told what to do," he said.

Psychological experts refer to this phenomenon as "full nesting"—when elderly parents continue to live with their adult children. This situation forces many parents to postpone retirement plans, leading to a decline in their quality of life, comparable to enduring illnesses in old age.

For Julia, 54, in London, the joy of her son quickly finding a job was soon replaced by worry when he decided to move back in with his parents and two younger siblings to save money, rather than renting. Julia had to calculate rent and ask her son to do chores in exchange for meals.

"Their world is so different from ours back then. Now, even a round of beers with friends is a financial burden for young people," Julia said with understanding, yet also expressed concern: "If his two younger siblings follow suit, I don't know when I'll ever get to retire."

Beyond financial pressure, conflicts over lifestyles are inevitable. Rob, a 77-year-old former military man, has welcomed his daughter Jess back multiple times: after graduation, during a job change, and most recently after her divorce. This time, she brought her 5-year-old daughter, making Rob's house crowded and messy.

"When adult children return, they easily act like kids, assuming their parents will still cook and serve them as before," Rob concluded. To live together peacefully, he and his wife were forced to implement strict house rules: clearly dividing chores and collecting rent fairly.