extended adolescence

Derogatory lifestyle description marrieds use for unmarrieds 25 years old or older.

Mom: Why don't you give Fred a chance?
Mandy: Mom, he's 5 inches shorter than me and 15 years older.
Mom: Ugh, you're so picky, you just want to keep enjoying your extended adolescence!

Dad: Did you see Mary at the wedding last night?
Cameron: Yeah Dad, hard to miss her!
Dad: That's not very nice! One day you'll get over your extended adolescence, and you're going to want to settle down with a nice girl!

extended adolescence by Thunder Stone October 30, 2013

extended adolescence

This refers to the prolonged life stage between teenager and adult, that Millennials born 1990 or after has always been experiencing. This life stage is mainly caused by the generational inability for anyone born 1990 or after to become full-grown adult (e.g. due to the inability to afford moving out from parents' house, or due to the inability to afford starting a family), which works pretty much in the similar way to the New Zealand generational ban on smoking for anyone born 2008 or after.

With all the financial pressures on Millennials, extended adolescence has become the norm; it's hard to feel like an adult when you're still living at your parents' house, unable to start your own family, and not done with figuring things out yet!

extended adolescence by Emotional Cruiser September 23, 2025