BEING a parent isn’t an academic subject. It doesn’t come with coursework and exams. Most of us just wing it.

Inevitably, we make mistakes. Sometimes, we don’t even realise they are mistakes until much later and then we may have to bear the consequences.

Two surveys this week demonstrated this. One revealed that grown-up children still living at home – often without paying rent – can unknowingly push their parents into debt.

This is the so-called “boomerang generation” who either cannot afford to live independently or simply prefer not to. In fact, they may be living quite well at home; the same may not be true of their parents.

Debt organisations say that parents should not be afraid to ask their children for rent and money towards household bills. Not only could this lead to money problems for mum and dad but it’s also not good for the children.

If they’re unaware what life on a daily basis actually costs then how are they to live independently successfully when the time does eventually come? We all want to protect our children and help them in their own lives but we are fooling ourselves here.

Mums and dad also have a right to a reasonable quality of life as well, and need enough money to do that. Immediate, practical action to let them know how much you’re forking out for them, and ask them to contribute, sounds like a sensible way forward.

The other survey – which made me feel very sad – showed that our young adults, brought up on the internet, are very lonely because they only make friends online rather than face to face.

One in seven of those in their late teens, twenties and early thirties asked in the survey by the The Big Lunch community campaign said they find it hard to make friends and are too scared to talk to strangers. Text, Facebook and email is their usual method of communication.

Dr Rebecca Harris from the University of Bolton, who worked on the poll, stated that we are spending less time having social interaction, have fewer friends than we’d like and are finding it harder to make new friends.

Perhaps we need to get youngsters off the computer and out playing a sport, taking up a hobby or socialising with others while we still have influence over them if we’re to avoid this one.

No-one ever said parenting was easy.