Remember when the word boomerang conjured playful images of thrown sticks coming back to you? Those times are long gone.
These are the opening words of our new book, Whose Couch Is It Anyway? Moving Your Millennial, which looks at the boomerang phenomenon through the stories of five families whose Millennial kids have returned home. These families are not alone – over 20 million young adults between the ages of 18 and 34 are living with their parents today, an all-time high.
The causes of their return to the nest are complex – for some, finances and the economy have taken their toll. Career track jobs are scarce for college graduates, compelling them to take positions below their expectations. With 25 million Millennials unemployed, they make up 40% of the jobless in America. And with that generation carrying over $1 trillion in student loan debt, moving back in with the folks can be a key means of saving money.
Cultural and social changes have also played a role in creating the delayed adulthood reflected in many boomerang kids. They are marrying and buying homes later than past generations as they put off starting a family. Instead, tech savvy, they hang out in groups, relying on social media to connect. Some pundits see this generation as narcissistic, with a strong sense of entitlement, while others focus on their idealism and commitment to community.
All of these threads came together in a spirited discussion by the crowd at our book launch on Mother’s Day weekend. The group was diverse, reflecting a wide range of experience and age – the Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Gen X, as well as Millennials themselves. Whatever their perspectives, the boomerang phenomenon resonated for them, as it may for you.
Have you heard that trailers aren’t only for films anymore? Forget the popcorn but check out our book trailer to give you a preview of Whose Couch Is It Anyway? And you can purchase your own copy through the Fuze Publishing website, Amazon.com and itunes.
