Adult children, would you not move because your parents told you you couldn't?

I have an internet friend who will be losing her job that she loves as an OB nurse at a small hospital. The hospital is closing its OB division in May. This friend lives in a rural community and already travels 30 miles for this current job.

I live in a large city and I told her she should come here because there’s tons of work and good pay. She said “I can’t because my mom won’t let me.” She wasn’t joking.

She would love to move but she feels guilty for leaving her mom. Her mom is still married to her dad and they are both healthy, so it’s not like they need her help. They are very religious and are big on family staying together. The parents also don’t want their grandchildren to move away.

This is so sad. I don’t know what my friend is going to do for work. She loves being an OB nurse. She’ll be lucky to find work within an hours drive staying where she is now. She may be stuck working in ER or at a physician’s office, which she doesn’t’ want to do.

Why do people not follow their dreams and do what is best for them? Life is so short. This makes me sick thinking about it.