Are our Gen Z sons just different?

[Anonymous]

We have two sons in their early and mid-twenties. They don’t whine or complain about life. They work hard and play hard with their large friend groups. I don’t believe they’ve touched a video game controller since college. They’re not softies. When they speak with older people it’s always yes ma’am and no sir. The younger one has had a girlfriend for 5 years and the other is married. They’re gainfully employed and living on their own. They work out and eat healthy, but still have a few drinks with friends on weekends. They enjoy life to the fullest and never sweat the small stuff.

Everything I read about Gen Z doesn’t comport with our lived experience. It’s not like we’re the parents of the year. Did we just get lucky, or are others experiencing the same thing?

[Anonymous]

Don’t believe everything you read online. Generational stereotypes get a lot of engagement and a lot of clicks. Young people are not a monolith.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t believe everything you read online. Generational stereotypes get a lot of engagement and a lot of clicks. Young people are not a monolith.

^^^Should I believe this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have two sons in their early and mid-twenties. They don’t whine or complain about life. They work hard and play hard with their large friend groups. I don’t believe they’ve touched a video game controller since college. They’re not softies. When they speak with older people it’s always yes ma’am and no sir. The younger one has had a girlfriend for 5 years and the other is married. They’re gainfully employed and living on their own. They work out and eat healthy, but still have a few drinks with friends on weekends. They enjoy life to the fullest and never sweat the small stuff.

Everything I read about Gen Z doesn’t comport with our lived experience. It’s not like we’re the parents of the year. Did we just get lucky, or are others experiencing the same thing?

If you really have two sons, then you know lots of other Gen Z boys, and you already know that the majority of them are just like your boys. Why are you posting this nonsense?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have two sons in their early and mid-twenties. They don’t whine or complain about life. They work hard and play hard with their large friend groups. I don’t believe they’ve touched a video game controller since college. They’re not softies. When they speak with older people it’s always yes ma’am and no sir. The younger one has had a girlfriend for 5 years and the other is married. They’re gainfully employed and living on their own. They work out and eat healthy, but still have a few drinks with friends on weekends. They enjoy life to the fullest and never sweat the small stuff.

Everything I read about Gen Z doesn’t comport with our lived experience. It’s not like we’re the parents of the year. Did we just get lucky, or are others experiencing the same thing?

No, OP, your kids are the only ones like this. No one else is experiencing the same thing.

[Anonymous]

We have two sons in their early and mid-twenties. They don’t whine or complain about life. They work hard and play hard with their large friend groups. I don’t believe they’ve touched a video game controller since college. They’re not softies. When they speak with older people it’s always yes ma’am and no sir. The younger one has had a girlfriend for 5 years and the other is married. They’re gainfully employed and living on their own. They work out and eat healthy, but still have a few drinks with friends on weekends. They enjoy life to the fullest and never sweat the small stuff.

Everything I read about Gen Z doesn’t comport with our lived experience. It’s not like we’re the parents of the year. Did we just get lucky, or are others experiencing the same thing?

No. Everyone else's Gen Z kids are unemployed and hiding in the basement playing video games. On the rare occasions they emerge, they tell older people to f off. How did you manage to overcome the odds?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t believe everything you read online. Generational stereotypes get a lot of engagement and a lot of clicks. Young people are not a monolith.

^^^Should I believe this?

Yes. Our boys sound a lot like yours. Remember that squeaky wheels get grease so those "Gen Z sons" that are garnering the most attention are either targeted by crazy, liberal women or bring it upon themselves by living as though those crazy, liberal women actually made them into victims.

[Anonymous]

We have two sons in their early and mid-twenties. They don’t whine or complain about life. They work hard and play hard with their large friend groups. I don’t believe they’ve touched a video game controller since college. They’re not softies. When they speak with older people it’s always yes ma’am and no sir. The younger one has had a girlfriend for 5 years and the other is married. They’re gainfully employed and living on their own. They work out and eat healthy, but still have a few drinks with friends on weekends. They enjoy life to the fullest and never sweat the small stuff.

My son is currently single, and doesn't drink at all, but the rest tracks.

[Anonymous]

So your older kid got married at 21 or 22?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So your older kid got married at 21 or 22?

Wait, sorry, I misread.

[Anonymous]

There’s a lot parents don’t know about their kids, but a lot of kids are generally fine

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have two sons in their early and mid-twenties. They don’t whine or complain about life. They work hard and play hard with their large friend groups. I don’t believe they’ve touched a video game controller since college. They’re not softies. When they speak with older people it’s always yes ma’am and no sir. The younger one has had a girlfriend for 5 years and the other is married. They’re gainfully employed and living on their own. They work out and eat healthy, but still have a few drinks with friends on weekends. They enjoy life to the fullest and never sweat the small stuff.

Everything I read about Gen Z doesn’t comport with our lived experience. It’s not like we’re the parents of the year. Did we just get lucky, or are others experiencing the same thing?

No, I think this is common. It isn’t like you accomplished something special with your parenting, if that is what you are driving at.

[Anonymous]

ok, OP, so what? My Gen Z son plays video games but doesn’t drink and is an amazing friend, son, grandson and brother.

[Anonymous]

It’s commonly known that young men are struggling.

https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/young-men-struggling-slowing-job-market-college-degree-rcna224482

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/emptying-the-nest/202505/falling-behind-struggling-young-men-in-todays-workforce

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/26/opinion/young-men.html

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20250430-scott-galloway-men-struggling-katty-kay-interview

[Anonymous]

My Gen Z DS is delightful.