Today I had a conversation with my mom regarding moving out. It is a common scene; you go to a university, get a degree, get a job and settle down. If your job is in another state, you'll have get your own accommodation and live an independent life. But if you get a job in your hometown, most probably you'll be staying with your parents until, say..you're married? (But what if I don't get married? How long should I stay with them then?)

Now my question is: can I move out and stay on my own even if I'm based in Ipoh? Oh well, it is a stupid question to ask actually. My mom's first reaction was "why?!" I should have known better than to spark off yet another controversial issue. My mom, like any other Asian parents, feels that children should stay with their parents until they get married unless they are working elsewhere. Her reasons are

• I can save the money in case of economic downturn and for future purposes; further studying, get a bigger house, marriage!! (god...) and etc.
• It is not a norm here for children to move away from parents in the same hometown unless they are married or they don't get along.
  
• Why move out when home is comfortable? You can be independent even if you stay with your parents.

I don't know about them but I feel that I am dependent on my parents as long as I stay with them. It's obvious even now. I lead a comfortable life whenever I am home for holidays. The ever-ready home-cooked food, inexhaustible clean clothes, air-conditioned room, fridge; all these are the luxuries that I can never get when I stay in campus. It makes me appreciate of what I have at home. I wonder if I'll be so appreciative if I had never been away.

It also made me think if I'll ever be independent if I continue staying with them after I graduate. I have everything I need at home. I will never learn the hardship of starting from scratch. It is true that I can always allocate a sum of money for my parents every month as a means of repaying them. But I have intended to so even if I don't live with them. So, giving them a sum of money monthly doesn't really make me any more independent.

Both my parents don't exactly agree with the idea of me moving out. They are like any other normal Chinese parents. They feel that I am planning to abandon them when I brought the issue up. The sad tone of their voices is apparent, especially my dad's when my mom raised the issue again when he came back. I am not blaming them though. It is natural for parents to be protective of their children. My mom always says that I will always be a child to her regardless my age because I AM her child. It is a natural instinct.

But I really feel the need to be absolutely independent and have total freedom. In fact, it is addictive after you get a taste of it. I doubt I will succeed in convincing them, but I do hope they will understand that I am not being 'kacang lupakan kulit'. I am just a child who wants to fly beyond the nest and see the world.

Or maybe I am just a child who talks a little too much =P