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Boomerang Kids: A Cultural Shift
Less shame and more acceptance as Millennials move back home.
According to Pew Research data, the national unemployment rate for 18 to 34 year old adults declined to 7.7 percent in the first third of 2015. Yet now, more Boomerang Kids - many with a college degree, huge student loans and poor job prospects - are living with their parents than during the Great Recession.
Young adults were hardest hit and economic growth has been slow. The 20s, a crucial time because the lessons learned influence who we become as adults, is now referred to as adultolescence. Some say that 28 is the new 18. The U.S. is more like other parts of the world where it’s common to find twenty somethings living at home until they get married. Read about how lazy and self centered they are in any article about Boomerang Kids. They say we need to move on with our own lives. But do we?
Adult children living with family has traditionally been based on need not want. But today, factors beyond financial debt impact this decision: the desire to buy a car, build up a bank account, save for a down payment. Just like when other cultural norms shift, the result can be less stigma and embarrassment. With more maturity and life experiences, theses kids see their parents differently and are better able take their advice and draw on their wisdom.
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Some Millennial parents are just fine with grown children living at home. They want to give them a chance to get on their feet. This transition demands a lot of support and a change in mindset as well. As parents welcome boomerang kids back, they may have to postpone the next phase of their lives, whether the plans were to downsize, retire or travel.
It may be a culturally and socially acceptable explanation for young people and their parents. But as with any change in the family, there’s an adjustment period. It’s important to put guidelines in place, clarify responsibilities, set clear goals and timelines for moving forward. With parents seeing the necessity and kids appreciating the convenience, there are gift in living under the same roof again.