Jessica's Parenting Journal

  My friend Sarah texted me last week: "Jake quit another job. Says he needs time to 'figure out his passion.' He's 28. When does the figuring out end?" I didn't have an answer. But I started researching, and what I found was both surprising and kind of sad. The Numbers That Made Me Go "Wait, What?" Here's the thing: 52% of young adults aged 18-29 were living with their parents in 2020 (Pew Research Center). That's the highest rate since the Great Depression. But it's not just living at home. It's what they're doing while living at home. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1 in 5 young men aged 25-29 didn't work at all in 2022 . Not unemployed and looking. Just... not working. And here's the kicker: many of them aren't desperately job hunting. They're... just not trying. What the Heck is "Lie Flat"? So I stumbled across this term that originated in China: "tang ping" or...

  I was scrolling through my college alumni group when I saw it: "Anyone else have their 20-something back home? Feeling like I failed somewhere." The comments poured in—dozens of parents quietly admitting the same thing. The empty nest they'd prepared for? Still occupied. The Statistic That Stopped Me Cold 58% of young adults aged 18-24 in the United States are currently living at home with their parents. More than half. This isn't some fringe phenomenon—this is the new normal. In July 2020, the percentage briefly surpassed levels not seen since the Great Depression. But here's what fascinated me: after researching international parenting practices for this blog, I started wondering—is this "boomerang generation" uniquely American? Or do other countries deal with this too? Spoiler: They do. But how they view it will completely change your perspective. The Question I Was Asking Wrong My first instinct: "What went wrong? Why can't y...