Part of the reason millennials get infantilized by elder generations is because many milestones and status symbols of adult success (owning a house, having a full time career, affording kids, retirement) are now completely unattainable to an entire generation of people.

And it may even be because we can't afford some of these things, that we ended up creating replacements that baffle earlier generations. The first example that pops up for me is how many millennials spend time with "found" or "chosen" family instead of their traditional families.

In regards to what I said about chosen family, here’s a better-worded version: elder generations have had more traditional nuclear families (mom+dad+kids), whereas many millennials choose to build a family through friends & community because they can’t afford/don’t want kids.

Thank you for all the responses. What’s striking to me is there are far less older people in my mentions telling me to grow up than when I first started writing on this subject online years ago. Unfortunate that this is still relevant, but intriguing to see naysayers grow silent.

I'm laughing because this post has reached other platforms now and there are so many white people with American flags in their profiles telling me to stop being lazy and get a job!

The funny thing about my post is this: my partner & I both have good jobs. We own a house, very minimal debt, could definitely afford kids. And yet that doesn't stop us from seeing we are the exception, not the rule as far as our generation goes. Why can't others see this?