Kids only start to appreciate their parents at 22

New research has found that it’s only when your teenage kids grow up and reach their 22nd birthday that they start to appreciate their family.

A study of 5,000 families by internet market research firm - www.onepoll.com – found that only when your children have left home for university, started work for the first time or had children do they finally start to appreciate their parents.

A quarter of those polled said moving out of the family home was a shock and more than half said they missed having their parents to look after them.

A further 17 per cent said it took going to university to appreciate the support their parents gave them. 

A spokesperson for onepoll said: “But by the time they reach their teens, they are learning to develop as individuals, which means they naturally push against everything their parents are trying to teach them, and test the boundaries at every opportunity.”

More than a fifth of people polled said they gained more respect for their parents after enduring months of sleepless nights, worrying about childhood illnesses, and learning how to become good parents themselves.

For women 27 emerged as the age they started to listen and take advice from mum and dad about their children, for men it is 29.

Other ages when we start to take advice from our parents:

Age we take relationship advice       
Female 24 and Male 25

Age we take advice on financial matters       
Female 23 and Male 25

Age we take advice on our children       
Female 27 and Male 29

Age we take advice on our work and jobs   
Female 23 and Male 24

Age we take advice on our social life       
Female 24 and Male 25

Age we take advice on health matters       
Female 21 and Male 24

Age we take advice on buying a house       
Female 25 and Male 28

Age we start worrying about parents getting older               
Female 27 and Male 30