See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy TOM LAWRENCE, NEWS REPORTER Published: 23:04 BST, 9 September 2026 | Updated: 00:39 BST, 10 September 2026
When a child leaves for university, it is often their first major step towards independence... or so most parents hope.But it turns out that today's young students find it difficult to fully fly the nest – sending 528 text messages a year asking for help.Grown-up children turn to Mum and Dad for everything from money worries and cooking questions to work concerns and DIY disasters, according to a study.Top of the message list was 'can you send me £20?' followed by 'how do I know if chicken is cooked?' and 'how do I read the electricity meter?'Other 'SOS' texts parents regularly receive include 'where is the stopcock?', 'is food always this expensive?' and 'what questions do I ask in a job interview?'The survey, commissioned by Costa Coffee, spoke to 2,000 parents whose children had left for university in the past five years and 1,000 teenagers. Grown-up children turn to Mum and Dad for everything from money worries and cooking questions to work concerns and DIY disasters, according to a study (stock photo) So clingy are some students that 61 per cent of parents surveyed said it feels as though their child never left home. And one in four parents admitted that even though the way they communicate has changed, their relationship has not.But not every parent is irritated by these cries for help. In fact, eight in ten said they secretly love getting messages asking for help.Dr Ritika Suk Birah, a consultant counselling psychologist, said: 'It doesn't surprise me that so many parents secretly love receiving these messages. 'Parenting changes as children become adults but the instinct to support and guide them doesn't suddenly switch off.'Being asked for advice, even about something as simple as a CV or an electricity meter, can be a lovely reminder that you still have an important place in your child's life.' The top 20 cries for help1. Can you send me £20? 41%2. How do I know if chicken is cooked? 40%3. How do I read the electricity meter? 28%4. Can you send me £100? 26%5. Where is the stopcock? 26%6. Can I come home? 25%7. Where's the water meter in my house? 25%8. What do I wear to a job interview? 24%9. Can I get an Uber? 21%10. What jobs should I apply for? 21%11. Can you post my things to me? 21%12. Can I eat chicken if it's a bit pink? 20%13. Can you look at my CV? 19%14. How do I set up a direct debit? 18%15. How do I deal with messy flatmates? 18%16. Is food always expensive? 17%17. What questions do I ask in a job interview? 17%18. Can I order food on your account? 16%19. What's my NI number? 16%20. How do I boil an egg? 15%
