Obviously, I am not part of the norm, although I always thought I was…..
I don’t know who demands down payments from their parents and the like, but if this is true, I have to say I think it is bad chinuch on the parents’ part…
I am young married and in Lakewood, and not living off my parents at all. Neither are many of the people I know. When our (collective) parents help us, it’s because they want to; not because we demand it. And although I can’t vouch for others’ relationships with their parents, I’d say that the majority of the people I know have good ones and are living in Kollel because they understand what it means to live in Kollel.
Granted, the standard of living here is a bit over-the-top. In fact, it bothers me very much. But before you blast Lakewood as a whole, know that there are many people here who make do with very little and appreciate living a Kollel lifestyle.