Hmmm....I'm one of those who swing back and forth. I spent my entire childhood clinging to my mother for dear life and she tried to make me as independent as possible. Now, she, and everyone else, are telling me that I'm too young to really be independent and that I have my whole life to learn how to support myself.
I'd rather work and support myself, but my parents won't hear of it (and, to be honest, I enjoy living comfortably). So, I have a job and can provide for my own personal expenses, food and whatnot, but that's really it. My mom invited herself to come with me when I move to my new apartment by my grad school next week (a cross-country move). This is my first apartment without roommates, so she wants to help me move in and I don't mind. It's like a mother-daughter thing, decorating my first place by myself. But I'm driving her to the airport before I go to orientation--I'M NOT TAKING MY MOMMY TO GRADUATE SCHOOL. NO.
After this program is over, I plan to be financially independent of my parents. I think it really depresses them to hear me say "I don't need your help" and that's partially way I'm not more insistent about it (the other part is I like having minimal resposibility because I know, once it's gone, it's gone). But I don't want to be one of those spoiled little girls who wake up one day, 28 and married, and her parents are still paying her part of the rent.