It's Been a Minute The myth of modern "adulthood"
Dec 1, 2025
In this conversation, Nancy Hill, a Harvard Professor and developmental psychologist, teams up with writer Kathryn Jezer-Morton to dissect modern adulthood. They explore why more young adults are living with parents and delaying milestones like marriage and parenthood. Kathryn argues that staying home doesn't mean immaturity, while Nancy highlights the shifting markers of financial independence. They also discuss how parenting, technology, and societal expectations are reshaping what it means to grow up today.
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Personal 'Failure To Launch' Story
- Brittany Luse recounts sleeping on a futon, working part-time, and moving back in with her parents after college during the 2008 crash.
- She uses her own 'failure to launch' to show young adulthood can include growth outside traditional milestones.
Independence Is A Cultural Idea
- Nancy Hill and Kathryn Jezer-Morton explain that multi-generational living is common outside Western individualist cultures.
- They argue American norms of launching into independence are culturally specific, not universal.
Renegotiate Relationships And Let Go
- Nancy Hill recommends renegotiating parent–young adult relationships so kids can individuate while living at home.
- She urges older generations to let young people take the reins and shape institutions to increase belonging.