I long to have a stay-at-home son. Thankfully, there’s a little guy who will never leave me
A surprise family member – a sweet, youthful tortoise – is staving off my maternal hunger pangs after our human offspring recently decamped
TL;DR
- The author experiences readjustment and anxiety when her sons leave home, finding her caretaking impulses thwarted.
- The article discusses the rise of "stay-at-home sons" (SAHS), referencing demographic data and anecdotes of young men living with parents.
- The author finds a substitute for her maternal hunger in caring for a newly hatched tortoise, which she refers to as her "stay-at-home child."
- The process of preparing the tortoise for hibernation, including fasting and a scary period of being kept in the fridge, is described as harrowing.
- The author admits that caring for the needy tortoise is a welcome distraction from her empty nest and offers the unique reward of a child who can never leave.