It's unreal how greatly the human experience can vary - I was born in the uk to itinerant parents (finance father), raised by a series of aupairs, and was sent to boarding school at six. Despite my parents being wealthy and having the space, I did not have a room at home from that point - when I went home for holidays, I would stay in the guest room, and when my brother was born, his room.

When I "left home" at 16 upon completing school and going to university, it couldn't have been less of an issue - as it was no different to going back to school.

I'm sure my family is an extreme example, but there's definitely a culture in the west, particularly among elites, where getting shot of your kids as soon as possible is highly desirable.

I have a perfectly ok relationship with each of them - see each once every few years, we're friendly and civil - but I've never really viewed them as parents - those would have been my aupairs and then the regimented institution of public school.