“I want it all, and I want it now”
A couple of new words describing our modern society have come to my
attention; “kidult” and “adultesent” with “peterpanners” thrown in for
good measure.
These words have come into being to describe the attitude of today’s
young people, and no, we aren’t talking about children here or even
teenagers, but young adults aged 20 to 40 who have, rightly or
wrongly, turned their backs on the old values.
Things like, marriage, family, job security, saving, and home ownership,
they are more likely to embrace, reality TV, celebrity gossip, binge
drinking, the latest car, plasma screen TV and ipods.
In a large proportion of this group there is little concern for politics or
world events or anything that impinges on their instant gratification,
“We live in a different economic and cultural climate.” they say,
“We still value maturity and responsibility, those values are still being
expressed, but in different ways”.
Well they are certainly right about the "different ways" part of that
premise, a 2004 survey in
between the ages of 18 and 30 are “uncommitted” and nearly
two thirds of them are living with parents.
Now I’m not opposed to this per-se, but when the sole motivation
is so that the kidult will have fewer responsibilities, a built in
laundry service and more disposable income for the gratifications
already mentioned it starts to smell a little like laziness and
immaturity to me.
The generation of, “I want it all, and I want it now” doesn’t seem
to be laying down the right foundation so that this end can ever
be reached.
Instead we are starting to hear things like this quote from a book
currently doing the rounds;
The debates about adulthood need to go deeper and consider what
makes an ethical adult in today’s world.
“Values are presumed to be earned through participating in the
conventional adult rituals.. you become loyal by sticking to a career,
marriage teaches you commitment, having children makes you
responsible.” the writer continues, “we need to acknowledge that
these kinds of values can be developed in other ways, through
different relationships and experiences.
It’s time to focus the adulthood debate on the bigger questions
about how we live today and recognize the many ways of being adult.”
Well I don’t know about you but that left me with an unpleasant
feeling at the pit of my stomach, if the opinions of this author are
in fact a popular concept it would seem that our world is in for
some radical changes that I, for one, don’t think are for the better.
Maybe my distrust for these views is because of my advancing years
and the reliance on the theory that these concepts have served us
well for a long time now and I'm not ready to see them thrown out
unless they are to be replaced with something better, or at the
very least replaced, not simply discarded.
I don't want to make money.
I just want to be wonderful.
17 comments:
Good Post. Makes lots of sense. More and more young adult kids seem to prefer Hotel Mama over getting out on their own. I see that here in Germany. The parents are mainly responsible for this. A sad thing it is.
I like the way you think and I agree with a lot of what you wrote. I think most of the radical changes around the world aren't being thought through and are too complicated. There's no respect being taught in many of the households to the children that will one day be running this world. It's scary to think about.
Hi Peter..
Thanks for your visit,I often wonder what the world is coming to.
When we were kids fun was on our
mind,but the kids of today are only
happy when they desroy.
Stay Well .
I agree, Peter. It is nothing for kids to still be living with mum and dad in their 30s. I was home until 23, when Hubby and I bought our house. Kids these days have it way too easy.
Have a great week.
Take care, Meow
First I loved the post for many reasons.
I laughed my butt off because I agree with you and because I have become my parents.
I have done alot and squandered...... nothing.
I have thought about this for years and the millions I burned to experience what I did was priceless.
I have been in the arms of an angel and at the gates of hell, quit a great job to go for a ride in the counryside on a whim.
This post got me to think back to when I was younger, wilder and when the back didn't hurt as much.
The future is ours and how we live today molds it.
If i could go back in time I would do the same thing all over again.
Ok maybe buy some microsoft stock lol
When I did stop I manage to secure my future, I am not totally stupid but as for those who don't well they will always have their memories.
Hi Peter
Great post but frightening to think the kids of today will be running the country one day. Alot of Kids today are not happy unless there fighting or destroying someone elses property .
take care keep smiling
Okay I dared you that you wouldn't use the photo of Arnie I sent you and you didn't use it as sent, as I see you have edited the word f*#k that was in the photo as this word was shown in it's full "glory"
It would appear that much of the trouble at schoolies is not caused so much by the schoolies, but by the older "hanger-ons" that join in and cause all the drama. Just seems to prove what you say is correct as these "older" schoolies (who may of been a schoolie years ago) have nothing to do but just want to "fuck up" the fun the real schoolies want to have by enjoying the end of school. The majority just want to "let their hair down" have a bit of fun and don't cause any trouble.
Peter ~ You have got to LOVE the Govenator! And Marilyn is not bad EITHER! ~ jb///
Amen Brother Peter!!
There was none of that with my kids, I assure you. It was up and out you go. If they wanted an education, they paid for it and did. And the funny thing is they still like to bring their families back to visit.
btw thumbs up for ol crooner George.
I'm and Adultkid...and I want it all and I want it now! But it hasn't worked for me! I think I'll have to make it my morning mantra and see if that works! ;) Oh! Well...off to buy a lotto ticket for Saturday!
Whoops...typo! Take out that 'and' and put in 'an'!
This post is right on the money Peter!! It describes so many out there today!
Amen to your post...this sounds like kids today in the USA. Why move out when you can stay at home, rent & utility free with mom & dad paying ALL the bills. It seems they have an, "It's all about me" attitude.
I feel really fortunate that my 22 year old has learned the lesson early and the hard way. I guess there's a reason for everything!
My parents paid for my college, and I hope to pay for my son's college in about 16 years. After college, though, I was on my own. I had no desire to live at home with mom and dad, and they did not want to have me there. We had a wonderful relationship, I just GREW UP as people are supposed to do. I am 33 years old now and have no respect for anyone who is over 18 and/or finished with college and still lives at home with mom and dad, rent free. with a mom who does their laundry and cooks for them. all so they can spend their own money (IF they work) on useless crap.
It is a sad state that this post speaks the truth.
I grew up in a "want and didn't get" era. At least we learned values.
I am fascinated by the way generations evolve - there is almost a loop, that has each new generation bringing influences from their upbringing and passing a different set down to the next.
The first time I was alerted to this was when my son was quite young, perhaps in his twenties, and one day he mentioned to me something that he had felt 'deprived of' in his childhood. I was astounded at the time because I hadn't thought this particular thing had been of amy great importance.
It was then I realised that I had focussed my child-rearing on the issues and values that I had felt were missing in my own childhood, therefore neglecting a whole other set that no doubt my children will address with their own offspring!
But can anyone answer me this:
What is it we did to our kids? That they are not getting married until they reach 30 or 40? It's epidemic...
:-/
Della
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