My boomer parents claim to “understand” the disgusting state of the economy and how its impossible to get ahead anymore but turn around and berate me for being jobless as if I haven't made a single effort to get one. Three months and at least 50 applications (small rural town, my opportunities are limited) show otherwise.
Common phrases include
“Well you have to do SOMETHING.”
“You and 8 billion other people..” when explaining that I don't feel I should be responsible for lining politicians' and corporate oligarchs' pockets as they keep voting for their own pay raises while I make dick as a wage slave. Why should I have to conform?
“You have to work up to that” when discussing how I want a job that makes me happy, like art. Why do I have to wait to be happy? Also I'm in my 30s, all my 'working up' seems to have gone nowhere but looming debts because America hates its people.
And my parents are REALLY good at offering to help pay for things I've been struggling with and then using it against me later. Or just offering to pay for dinner and groceries in general, referring to it as stopping the 'gravy train' later. Then don't fucking do it? I don't understand.
I'm just trying to live and be happy, man.
Sorry it's not as easy to do as when you were my age and rent was $275, gas was $1.19, your car was brand new and cost the amount of my 12 year old one, your wages were twice what mine would be based on inflation probably because you stayed at your job for a while because they actually rewarded loyalty back then, and your money went further like I could literally list reasons why you were able to make it in life all day. You take naps at your WFH job that you've securely held since like 1985, please don't lecture me and then shut down when I make points that don't fit your narrative.
This got long sorry.
TLDR; my boomer parents are exhausting to discuss my struggles with and I would love to know I'm not alone in this tiresome battle. Share with me your experiences in this and if you have advice on handling it I'd love to hear it.