Your post was inspirational to me, but I also disagree in some ways.

I'm sort of like the 20somes you wrote about.

At 22 I don’t make enough at my job as a waitress to live on my own AND make car/insurance payments, so I choose to stay at home. While I do pay my parents some rent ($60/week) obviously I save a great deal of money by eating the food here, washing my clothes here, and using the computer.

I don’t job from” job to job”, but I don’t exactly have career either. I don’t really feel that is immature. I have zero desire for a 9-5 hour job. I would be bored and unhappy. Being a waitress for a few years isn’t prestige and has no benefits, but I’m not miserable. I think that counts for something. Sure I could get a call center job and make $12/hr and be able to afford to be totally secure, but I would hate it.

I don’t “jump from relationship to relationship”, but I do date different people. How else would I find someone to one day marry? I don’t know God’s plan for me, but I do desire marriage. If I date someone and the attraction doesn’t go both ways or we don’t have enough in common I don’t stay around just so it won’t seem as though I jump from person to person.

However, when you talk about wasted money I am ashamed to say I fall into that category. I probably spend roughly $200 on clothes a month. Obviously I could invest this money better. I could remodel the bathroom or start a savings account. Buying clothes, books, magazines, etc… isn’t preparing for the future. And while I don’t know what that future is, buying the latest issue of Glamour probably want help me. (but who knows??) I think I need better spend money and down time!!! I was already thinking about taking a college class this summer, I should think about taking more. Thanks for such an inspiring article!!
Ash | Homepage | 02.16.06 - 7:21 am | #

Thanks for linking to your article. I appreciate that you not only tell us WHY we shouldn't be "kidults" but also some practical suggestions on HOW to honor God and others. Thanks!
Amateur_theologian | Homepage | 02.16.06 - 7:23 am | #

That's a great article. Thanks for posting it!!
Nella Sound-Out | Homepage | 02.16.06 - 7:43 am | #

BTW, what program do you use for logo editing?
Nathan Straub | Homepage | 02.16.06 - 8:52 am | #

Great article! I really enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Christine | Homepage | 02.16.06 - 9:14 am | #

Wow, that is great!!! I know some people who fit in that catagory and I must say, I wish I could do something for them but then again, they just don't get it when you tell them. I think there is a large amount of rebelion in their lives. And in some regards where the guys buy the video games and things, the girls spend money on clothes. I know I need to work on that area quite a bit even though I am not in my 20's. It is good to start good habits early instead of struggling with them when you get older!:)
abby berg | Homepage | 02.16.06 - 9:56 am | #

That was very interesting. I never really knew "kidults" existed, never even occured to me...
Chase | Homepage | 02.16.06 - 10:07 am | #

I loved this article because it described to a "t" exactly what I feel God is speaking to me. Recently, I joined a home group through my church that has around a dozen young, single professional women. I love the women in this group, but I often feel the pressure to have material things or to plant myself somewhere with a new home.

However, God has repeatedly shown me the verses you use in the article about not coveting the things of this world. Also, I have felt like I should move back home after graduating in May to help my parents. They both don't have any money saved for when they are older. I felt the call to stay at home until married was a Biblical call on my life.

My home group and other friends would most likely disagree and this is the conflict. So, I have struggled with this for awhile, until reading your article. Thanks for standing up in this area; I really appreciate the encouragement!
Angela | 02.16.06 - 10:34 am | #

I don't think you realize how frusterating this kind of article can be to someone who is "stuck" in this sort of situation for the time being. Marriage isn't beating down all of our doors, and it also isn't God's plan for everyone.
I know God has a plan for me, and that part of it involves me living at home right now and working at jobs I don't want for the rest of my life. If I were to seek out other opportunities (and I have, including missions) I would be wasting my time; God has repeatedly closed the door. I already feel uncomfortable about my situation; articles like this just make me even more so. Would you have me ignore God's will just so that I don't appear to be living in extended adolescence?
While some may have been challenged by your words, and benefitted, some of us are weary of being lumped in and having our situations thrown in our faces.
Anonymous | 02.16.06 - 12:42 pm | #

Anonymous: We never condemned the appearance of extended adolescence. If fact, we say that when marriage is not forthcoming, and if it makes better sense to stay home, it's not only OK, it's biblical!

The challenge is for all of us to examine our hearts and repent of the attitude that runs from responsibility and seeks to use others to subsidize our irresponsibility. Thanks for your feedback.

Edited By Siteowner
Brett Harris | Homepage | 02.16.06 - 1:34 pm | #

Brett, I think you meant "when marriage isn't forthcoming"--am I right?
JoAnna T. | Homepage | 02.16.06 - 4:38 pm | #

Yes, that's what he meant. Thanks, JoAnna!
Alex Jordan Harris | Homepage | 02.16.06 - 4:55 pm | #

It's a good article guys. Congrats.
Caleb | Homepage | 02.16.06 - 11:20 pm | #

Hi guys, I stumbled across your blog a while ago and didn't have time to fully persuse it. Then when the weekly boundless.org email came flitting into my inbox, I "re-discovered" your writings. The article was brilliant. I intend to print copies for each of the girls in my Bible study group and also give a copy to your church's youth pastor. Thanks for so articulately and awesomely addressing an important issue. Keep up the great blogging!
Danielle | Homepage | 02.17.06 - 9:47 pm | #

This is a great article. I am 23, a full time college student working two part time jobs, and I live at home with my parents. This article reminded me that my situation is not something to be embarrssed about, but it is where God has me right now, and that's okay. I have no marriage prospects and I don't make enough money to live on my own or to afford toys and gadgets. But, that is okay, because it gives me the opportunity to focus on who God wants me to be. Again, thanks for the article. I will pass it along to some of my "kidult" friends!!
Ahnivah | 02.18.06 - 11:02 am | #

Aloha guys,

First of all, good article. As one on the extended end of extended adolescence, let me chime in just a bit. I really enjoyed the practical applications you placed at the end. I've been in the same church for the 2 years I've been at home, leading the young adult group for the last year. I made a more detailed response to this on my blog, but I'll just sum it up a bit here.

My experience has been that a significant portion, if not the majority, of the "kidults" fit into that more responsible group that simply doesn't buy into the more consumer/commericial driven aspect of things and isn't willing to settle for doing just anything to go spend ridiculous amounts of money on an apartment. I live in the DC suburbs of VA right now, and a decent apartment is going to run $1000/mo before utilities/food/etc. Nearly our entire young adult group is single and living at home, but most are actually working and doing some college (either on a campus or via a distance learning program) to get the basics out of the way as they try things to discover where their gifting is before pursuing any kind of career. There's not a playstation among us, and that type of thing seems to be true of several of our sister churches in the area.

Bottom line, I think you may have oversimplified things when many of your suggestions would already fit into the lifestyle that many of these 20 somethings are already living.
Joe Greene | Homepage | 02.21.06 - 8:26 am | #

You guys might want to take a look at this ...

[link removed by siteowner]
Mathetes | 02.21.06 - 8:02 pm | #

Thank you for bring that to our attention, Mathetes. We had not seen it.

The problem is being addressed. God bless you!
Alex Jordan Harris | Homepage | 02.21.06 - 11:48 pm | #