Why Is Everyone Getting Married and Having Kids When I Still Feel Like a Kid?

    It happened again. I opened Instagram, and BAM—another engagement announcement. Another perfectly staged photo of someone holding up their left hand with a caption like “I said yes to my best friend!” while their fiancé beams in the background.

    I’m happy for them. Truly. But at the same time, I’m sitting here wondering if I even remember to take the trash out regularly. My fridge currently contains half a bottle of oat milk, three different types of hot sauce, and a sad-looking bag of baby carrots that I swear I was going to eat. Meanwhile, my former classmates are planning weddings and naming babies.

    How? HOW?

    If you’re in your 20s, you’ve probably noticed it—the sudden, inexplicable pressure to “settle down.” You don’t remember signing up for this race, but somehow, everyone around you is sprinting toward adulthood like it’s a limited-time offer.

• Age 22: You’re celebrating surviving college.

• Age 24: You’re thrilled if you remember to schedule a dentist appointment.

• Age 26: You open social media, and suddenly, everyone is married, pregnant, or posting professional photos of their toddlers.

    What?? When did we reach this level? Did I miss a meeting?

    Society is obsessed with life milestones. First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage—yada yada yada. Somewhere along the way, we were told that there’s a correct order and correct timeline for everything.

• Graduate at 22

• Find love at 24

• Get married at 26

• Buy a house at 28

• Have kids at 30

    But let’s be real: life does not work that way. Some people get married at 22 and love it. Others stay single until their 40s and thrive. Some have kids early, some never have kids, and some are just out here trying to figure out how to afford organic vegetables.

    No one’s path is the same, but because social media loves to make it seem like we should all be achieving things at the same time, it’s easy to feel like you’re behind just because you’re on a different path.

    But… What If I Still Feel Like a Child?

    Here’s the thing—I still don’t feel like an adult most days. I pay bills, I have a job, I own an actual vacuum cleaner (which feels like a responsible purchase), but deep down, I still feel like the same confused 18-year-old who used to eat ramen noodles straight out of the package.

    The idea of choosing a wedding dress? Terrifying. Raising a child? I can barely keep my plants alive. Signing a mortgage? I just learned how to properly fold a fitted sheet.

    Maybe some people are ready for that stage, but not everyone is meant to hit these milestones at the same time.

    What If You’re on a Different Path?

    Here’s a wild thought: What if we stopped treating life like a checklist and started treating it like an adventure?

• Maybe your adventure includes getting married young.

• Maybe it includes moving to a new city alone.

• Maybe you adopt a cat and live your best life in an apartment filled with plants.

    Whatever it is, it’s your story, and no one else’s timeline matters.

    So the next time you see yet another engagement or pregnancy announcement, take a deep breath. Your life is unfolding exactly as it should—even if your biggest accomplishment today was finding a sock that disappeared in the laundry last week.