Adulting is a scam? Gen Z struggling to adjust to responsibilities of adulthood

It’s said that when you’re young, you can’t wait to grow up and gain independence. But when you do finally become an adult, 'adulting' comes with many responsibilities that can get you missing the days when your parents or guardians were responsible for your every need.

The transition from childhood to adulthood can be a challenging journey, especially for Gen Z, a generation that has a different way of looking at life and what it should offer. 

It is for this reason that psychologists call for parents and guardians to raise their children in a resilient way, so that they are able to cope with life's challenges without buckling.

This need to raise resilient children has been reinforced by instances where there have been reports in some countries such as China, where some children were opting to become what is being called 'full time children'.

These are children who have burnt out or are finding it hard to get or keep work and therefore move back home and become 'full time children' despite being of age.

For Edith Jacobeth, a Kenyan Gen Z who is struggling with the transition into adulthood, she said she didn't realise how rough the world could be until she had to get the all important document that confirms she is an adult - her ID.

She spoke to Wananchi Reporting  about her experience:

After completing high school, I realized that I had to start thinking like an adult. 

It wasn't easy, and I had to learn a lot of things on my own. I completed high school in 2021, and that's when I saw a major difference in my life. 

When I turned 18, I went through a lot of things because I wasn’t prepared for adulthood. One of the fears I had while growing up was the day I would grow up and have to become independent.

My worst nightmare happened to me in August when I went to get my national Identity card.

It has never crossed my mind that a time will come that I would have to go out to look for things myself. I was very reluctant to go towards that direction because I never felt ready for that phase in life mentally.

I went for my ID finally and the experience was terrible.

It was my first time in a line with many people and nobody cares if you get served or not. I felt so low that day and wished my mum was there to help out.

I felt helpless. It never crossed my mind that sometimes being an adult comes with challenges.

I literally went for my ID like for a whole week because I kept on missing some documents. I was very frustrated as the person serving me was rude. 

It made me hate doing things like applications.

It was also the first time I experienced corruption and tribalism. I could stay in a queue patiently waiting for my turn but some people would come and go straight to the office get served and leave you there waiting for hours.

From that time my eyes opened and I realized that I wasn’t a child anymore. 

All I was told was to do well in my exams and go to a good university, but not how to prepare for how tough the world is. 

While several Gen Z youths from middle class backgrounds may be able to relate with Edith’s experience, upbringing plays a role in experiences.

For some children who grew up in poor families, they have had to grow up much faster than before they reach 18 years and have had responsibilities placed on them early, making them learn that life is not a bed of roses.

Edith says parents should prepare their children for adulthood in phases so that by the time they turn 18, they are conversant with life’s challenges, rather than shielding them.

She says, “I grew up knowing that my mum would do everything for me, but reality hit me when I went to college, you have be accountable,  make choices for yourself , make friends and majorly get out of your comfort zone.”

 Some tips for building resilient children according to psychcentral.com include:

1.    Leave room for risk.

2.    Allowing children to solve their own problems

3.    Teach them to 'fish' rather than just giving them fish