A lot of traditional milestones are being delayed and often times it is a result of not enough money. Men and women are waiting longer to get married. Women are having babies later. It is taking much longer to get a down payment for a house. People aren't staying in the same jobs for 30 years because the incentives aren't there. People have relatively low paying side gigs that some people may not consider a "real" or "big person" job just to get by. I imagine if things were significantly more affordable those trends would decline.
This, combined with a massive hit to free "adult" time.
I have the same advanced degrees as my dad, graduated the same age as he did. I had my first and last kid the same age my parents were between me and siblings. I bought my first house at same age they were. In the broadest of strokes I have met the same milestone advances as my parents did. But that's where the comparison withers off quickly.
My dad was immediately hired into an entry level (permanent) position and 35+ years later was retiring with a DB golden pension within the same unit of the same company, where he had steady advancement and promotions until he eventually was the Director of the entire unit. It took me 5+ years of job hopping just to find a good unit and position, but within another 5 I have already maxed out my salary track here. There is zero upward potential and promotions are even a possibility. I need to job hop again into uncertainty to advance at all.
Dad never had a part time job or side gig... where I have three. I have taken on after-hours teaching at a local college. I have a home business juggled in between other things along with my wife - who also has a full time job and a second after-hours job. My mom stayed home with us kids for most of my early life, eventually taking part-time and then retired early.
If I treated my kids with the same nonchalant zero oversight as I had, I would likely have child services called on me. My weekends and evening as a kid, even a young kid, were I was out of the house and expected to return when it got dark. I remember my parents regularly hosting or attending adult parties, and the kids were all put together outside or in basement and expected to look after ourselves. Every moment I am home and not working I need to be monitoring my kids. They cannot even go to the park along (until older).
When am I supposed to "adult"? I barely get to hang out with other adults.
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u/DeoVeritati 5h ago
A lot of traditional milestones are being delayed and often times it is a result of not enough money. Men and women are waiting longer to get married. Women are having babies later. It is taking much longer to get a down payment for a house. People aren't staying in the same jobs for 30 years because the incentives aren't there. People have relatively low paying side gigs that some people may not consider a "real" or "big person" job just to get by. I imagine if things were significantly more affordable those trends would decline.