“Boomerangers” — adult offspring who return to live with their parents — have been the stuff of sitcoms and punch lines. But the freeloader image may become a casualty of the recession, which is reshaping what it means to be a responsible American family in an era of mounting crises.... Read full article

First there are the Alzheimer’s symptoms, including confusion, debilitation, and a fog that never lifts. Then there are the Alzheimer’s caretaker symptoms, including fatigue, headaches, and a nagging question that never fades: if you’re caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s, how much of your own life are you responsible for sacrificing in the process?... Read full article

A new study says that the amount of time children spend on chores has dropped like the Dow to only 24 minutes a day—25% less than in 1981. Experts say the decline of chore time reflects “important behavioral and values shifts that will affect lives for years to come,” including issues like domestic bliss and the responsibility of doing volunteer work. Should children do more chores?... Read full article