Patrick Madrid just hit on something that’s been affecting a lot of us parents. He’s talking about how so many young people these days are, well, stuck. You know the ones: adults in age but still clinging to mom and dad like it’s a Netflix subscription. 😅 Here’s the scoop:

The Big Stat That’ll Make You Gulp 🤔

Patrick shared this: About 25% of Gen X and Millennial parents know at least one of their kids under 21 who doesn’t think they’ll ever be able to adult properly by the time they’re 30. Like, no job, no house, no clue. 

And it’s not just about money: it’s across the board. Rich, poor, boy, girl, it doesn’t matter. Even families where some kids are thriving are still watching one kid struggle to launch.

What’s Going On Here? 🧐

Patrick points out a mix of stuff:

Disabilities and disorders: Autism, anxiety, ADHD. Legit struggles.

Fragility and inertia: Basically, life seems too hard, so why even try?

The "Internet Brain": Patrick’s convinced that the internet rewired all our brains. Back in the day, you’d hit the library, read a book, and grind for what you wanted. Now? TikTok teaches you how to make a sandwich in 12 seconds, and suddenly you think life’s supposed to be that easy. 🙃

Patrick pulls out his own throwback card:

He and Nancy got married in 1981, bought a house in 1985 with a 12% interest rate, and scraped by on one income with three kids. (Ever had rice-a-roni for dinner three nights a week? Patrick has.)

His point? Life was HARD, but you figured it out. You worked two or three jobs, lived with awful roommates, and made it work.

Today’s young people? They’re stepping out of cushy nests into a world that demands $2,000+ a month just to exist. That’s scary stuff.

Is It Just the Economy? 💡

Sure, housing is expensive, and wages haven’t kept up. Patrick says there’s more to it. He calls it a "why bother?" mentality. Young people feel like they’ll never catch up to their parents’ standard of living, so they’re not even trying.

The Real Question 💔

Patrick doesn’t sugarcoat it: What happens if this trend sticks?
Will these kids ever move out? Get married? Have kids? Or will we end up supporting them until we’re in rocking chairs? (And then who supports us?! 😳)

His theory? The internet plays a HUGE role. Constant online comparisons and instant gratification are making life’s hard parts seem impossible. Instead of "sink or swim," we’ve got "why even try?"

Takeaway for Parents 🙏

Patrick’s advice? Don’t lose hope. Talk to your kids about life skills: budgeting, cooking, cleaning, and grinding through hard times. Life’s not Instagram-perfect, and that’s okay.

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