Times are changing for people in their 20s. While their parents were most likely married and starting families well before the age of 30, today many people this age are still living at home and trying to find their place in the world. What causes people to become 20-somethings is a topic for another article, but what we are looking at here are five ways to tell if your child is a "20-something."
Keep in mind that not all people between the ages of 20 and 29 are "20-somethings." This is like saying that all men like Arnold Schwarzenegger movies. Just because they are in their 20s does not mean that they fit into this category. This list will help you identify 20-somethings within that age group.
Here it is:
1. They are unnecessarily nostalgic.
There's nothing wrong with your child reminiscing about the good times they had in high school and college. The problem is that they'd rather work on creating new memories than creating their futures. Hanging out with friends and partying are still priorities, while careers and families aren't.
2. You still pay some of their bills.
I'm guilty of this (hey, I never said I wasn't a 20-something). My parents still pay my cell phone bill. It's not because I want or need them to, but they insist. They know things are a little tight for me, so they want to help me out... and saving me this $75 each month is pretty nice.
3. They still live at home (or have at least once since graduating college)
The housing situation for recent college grads is tough. Everyone expects that they should find a well paying job and their own apartment right out of school. The unfortunate truth is that most people take between six months and one year to find that kind of job. Until then, many are stuck working the same part-time jobs they had in high school and living with their parents. Hopefully you didn't convert their old bedroom into your new office just yet!
4. Their attitudes and values haven't changed much since they were 17.
Many people are classifying the "20-something" stage as an extended period of adolescence. This comes with the same behaviors and beliefs as the first adolescence, the teenage years. A lack of responsibility, failure to commit to anything, and an unyielding optimism about the future are rampant. All doors are still open for 20-somethings, but they haven't chosen which door to walk through yet.
5. Many of their friends are in the same boat.
Being a 20-something is not an uncommon thing. Many people are delaying their adulthood as long as possible, and surround themselves with likeminded people. Take a look at your child's friends. Are they still living at home? Can you see a lot of similarities between them? Chances are that if your child is a 20-something, a lot of his/her friends are too.
Hopefully this list will help you decide if your kid is a 20-something. Now if only anyone had any ideas of how to break them out of this phase...
Kyle is a 26 year old writer living in western New York. Recognizing the growing number of people in their late 20s postponing major life milestones, Kyle runs a blog where he discusses his own life as a 21st Century 20-something. Find it at Diary of a 20-Something.
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