I think this depends on your family structure and goals. I am 21, Indian, and I live with my parents. I’m in my last year of med school now, and it has been a hard journey to get in, in the first place, and then work my way through it. While I do most of my stuff on my own, there have been times I have been so stressed my parents had to spoon feed me or I would forget to eat. They still pay for everything, cook for me most days, and will gladly clean and do laundry if I need them to (we do have maids for most of the stuff, but my parents do some of the work themselves). Me doing well in school has always been, and still is, a family goal. My parents want me to be happy, and to succeed in life, and if that means I need to focus only on my studies/career, they are okay with that. My mom still wakes me up every single day; I literally get spoon-fed every time I have exams; they buy special treats for me when I am stressed; they drive me around whenever I need it; they have stayed up with me when I have pulled all-nighters; but that doesn’t mean I am lazy or entitled. It just means that my priority in life right now is my career; and me and my family will do everything to make sure I succeed. So far, it’s worked out pretty well.

My brother had a similar situation, and he moved out at 17, and now lives in a different country. He turned out absolutely fine, and is not entitled or childish or dependent in the least. He’s pretty successful in his own field of work.

My parents ‘coddling’ us only served the purpose of us being able to succeed beyond all limits. I will forever be grateful for that, and intend to do the same for my children. Honestly, in my culture, that’s considered as something expected of all parents to do. I think it can have both positive and negative outcomes, but for me and my family it’s worked out marvellously.