That means people are living with their parents longer and delaying having kids for economic reasons.

There seems to be a lack of desire to have children, perhaps contributed to by the doom scrolling on the environment. Marriage also seems to take place a lot later, if at all. And yes, home purchase takes serious coin, but lets be honest, it's never felt cheap to buy a house, and these days people seem content to rent until they can afford that HGTV ready home. Lots of fixer uppers out there at affordable prices, and today's mortgage rates are way lower than what I paid on my first home. (Before you argue it was cheaper back then, income was much lower too.)

The U.S. Census Bureau's working paper, "Changes in Milestones of Adulthood," reports that only 17% of young adults (ages 25-34) had reached all five markers of adulthood in 2023.

Just because the author considers these "5 markers of adulthood" to be the defining measure, doesn't mean those ages 25-34 consider them all important. Our kids are in that age bracket, educated professionals who live on their own and contributing to society. Who are we to say that is not enough to be considered Adults?

Yeah, I would love to become a grandmother, but I am for sure keeping that to myself!

IP,
who always thought choosing not to have kids was a much more valid choice than having them because it was expected of you