I'm wondering if your Mom also knows a good thing when she has it. It's possible that somwhere down deep, she knows that if you get a life (ie: job, car, boyfriend, etc...) she won't have you home anymore. In essence, she will have lost her helper. I don't want to say she's manipulating you, but be sure not to rule that out as it does happen all the time to people out there. I hope this isn't too negative, but someone had to say it. On the other hand, Karen, Rachel, and the others could be spot on. Your Mom doesn't want you to make the same mistakes she might have made. But she needs to realize that she can't protect her little girl forever.