Yesterday I came across this blog about still living at home with parents in your 20's. I can't help but to notice this trend of fellow millennials creating think pieces and blogs about feeling inadequate in comparison to peers who seem to "have it all together". Many of these blogs come off as insecure and a need to assure people "I don't have this, but look what I have accomplished." I can't help to notice this silent but loud competition amongst peers on social media in order to see who will "make it first". My follow up question is; what's the end prize?
Too many of us have bought into the "American Dream" that once we achieve a degree, job, get married, buy a house, car, and have children we have arrived and officially made it. We have been led to think that these requirements are the end all, be all to constant happiness and success. Not to mention that you must have all of these requirements met before you turn thirty. Although in 2016, these so called requirements to success are not as applicable as they once were decades ago, many young people still feel the pressure from society, family, peers, and trying to prove something to others.
This is not the 1950's where people got married at age twenty and bread was five cents. Everything is different today. Women are getting married and having children in their later years due to access to higher education and pursuing careers. Young people are saving money to travel to world. Relationships are more complex and people are getting to know each other longer to make sure divorce is not a future option. We need to make this known. It's 2016, not 1916. You do not have to explain to anyone why you're single at age twenty eight, you do not have to explain why you still live with parents or why you're twenty nine with no children, especially if the people questioning you aren't contributing to paying you bills to help take care of this hypothetical home and children.
As Americans in our current economy, we should also take notes from some African, Caribbean, Indian, Asian, and Latino families and practice living at home until a child has enough money to get out in the world, even if that takes to age thirty. There's always been this stigma of the lazy thirty year old slob who still lives at home with parents and sleeps all day in the basement. Or the broke child who had to move back in with mom and dad. This isn't always accurate. As long as you're doing what you're supposed to do, that's what matters. Having a car and living space is a sign of adulthood to some degree, but it's something that's a necessity in our society. It doesn't define your whole life.
Follow me on social media!: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Pinterest |YouTube | Google Plus | Donate to TKS
0 comments:
Post a Comment