As Millennials enter their 30s and 40s, they are hitting their stride in the world. But even as they devotedly raise their children and flourish as professionals, there are many things that Millennial kids do that their Boomer parents subtly — or in some cases, not so subtly — judge them for.
Boomer parents often unfairly judge their Millennial kids for these everyday choices:
1. Waiting to get married
Millennial kids are now between 29 and 44 years old, making them the perfect age for their Boomer parents to ask why they’re not married yet. Millennial kids are highly aware that their Boomer parents will quietly judge whatever answer they give, yet their reason for not getting married is actually very simple: They just don’t want to.
According to a survey from the Thriving Center of Psychology, Millennials view marriage in a very different way than the generations before them. Some Millennials said that the idea of marriage is outdated, while others believe it’s way too expensive to have a wedding in the current economy. Twenty-one percent of Millennials aren’t interested in marriage at all, and those who do want to get married aren’t in any rush to do so. And 65% of unmarried Millennials live with their partners, proving that weddings aren’t the only way to make a long-term commitment.
2. Choosing to be child-free
Millennial kids were fully expected to follow in their Boomer parents’ footsteps. They thought they were going to find a job right out of college, get married, buy a house, and have kids; and all in that exact order. But the lives that Millennial kids actually have look drastically different from what they imagined, which is due, in part, to their economic reality. Many Millennial kids made the decision to not have kids, something their Boomer parents quietly judge them for.
As the Pew Research Center pointed out, there are more women between the ages of 25 and 44 without children than ever before. Some said they just didn’t want kids, while others had more concrete reasons to be child-free. Additionally, 36% said they can’t afford to raise kids, and 38% said their concerns about the state of the world influenced their decision.
Even though their Boomer parents want to play grandma, Millennial kids know that the everyday labor of raising kids would fall on their shoulders, so they choose to be child-free.
3. Spoiling their pets
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Millennial kids might not be having kids at the rate their Boomer parents would like, but they take their role as pet parents very seriously. In fact, Millennials are currently the generation with the most pets in the US. And the way Millennial kids spoil their pets is something their Boomer parents quietly judge.
Boomer parents don’t understand why Millennial kids make home-cooked meals for their pets when they could buy a bag of dry food and call it a day. They don’t get why Millennial kids give their fur babies the other side of the bed, along with all the toys they could ever dream of.
Millennial kids indulge their fur babies like they were actual babies because it brings them joy in a difficult world. Their Boomer parents can keep quietly judging them, but it won’t change how spoiled their grand-dogs are.
4. Setting boundaries
Setting boundaries is something Millennial kids do that their Boomer parents quietly judge. As difficult as it can be for Millennial kids to reinforce their boundaries when their moms push up against them, they know that honoring their own limits is the best way to care for themselves as adults.
“Establishing and maintaining healthy boundaries is crucial in untangling unhealthy family dynamics,” says soul executive coach Carolyn Hidalgo. “Clearly communicate your boundaries to your family in a respectful and assertive manner. Explain why these boundaries are important for you,” she advised.
“Be prepared to enforce your boundaries if they are crossed,” she continued. “Respect the boundaries of other family members as well… Mutual respect means allowing others to think and behave in whatever way works for them and you having this same freedom.”
5. Deciding not to come home for the holidays
When Millennial kids say they’re not planning on coming home for the holidays, their Boomer parents quietly judge them. While their silent resentment usually comes from a good place, they don’t see how harmful it can be. Boomer parents want to hold onto family traditions at all costs, so they have a hard time accepting it when their adult kids start their own traditions.
Therapist Madison Hamzy pointed out that although “the holidays are intended to bring warmth and cheer, they often leave us feeling emotionally drained. Familial expectations during this season often conflict with the independent and autonomous people we are the other 51 weeks of the year.”
“Parents, siblings, grandparents, and in-laws alike have both spoken and unspoken expectations during the holidays,” she continued. “Boundaries act to support you in living out your values, protecting your inner peace, and meeting your own needs.”
6. Believing in astrology
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Millennial kids’ abiding belief in astrology is something their Boomer parents quietly judge. While Millennial kids see astrology as a tool to help them uncover their truest selves, their Boomer parents don’t see the point of star charts.
They don’t know their sun sign, let alone their rising sign, and they won’t look up the exact time they were born, no matter how many times their Millennial daughters ask them to. Boomer parents can resist astrology all they want, but Millennial kids will keep devoting themselves to it, no matter how much they get judged for it.
7. Investing in therapy
Making mental health a priority is something Millennial kids do that their Boomer parents quietly judge them for. The Thriveworks 2025 Pulse on Mental Health Report revealed that there are still major generational divides around seeking outside support for mental health.
Millennials are the most likely to seek out therapy, with 70% of Millennials saying they planned to see a therapist over the next year. Boomers exist on the opposite end of the spectrum, as 80% said they wouldn’t seek out mental health services at all, making them the least likely generation to go to therapy, and 75% of Boomers said they don’t think therapy is necessary.
8. Paying for meal kits
Millennial kids make their lives a little easier by ordering meal kits, which their Boomer parents quietly judge them for. They might not say it out loud, but many Boomer parents think that Millennial kids have it way easier than they ever did.
Boomer parents don’t understand why Millennial kids need to order boxes for dinner, with food that’s basically prepared for them, when they have the luxury of working from home. But no matter how much Millennial kids and their moms clash on this issue, how they run their household is up to them.
9. Talking about being burnt out
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Boomer parents quietly judge Millennial kids for talking about being burnt out. They maintain that burnout didn’t exist back in their day, but really, it’s always existed, only now, Millennials are brave enough to put it all out in the open.
According to burnout recovery coach Bethany Sadler-Jasmin, Millennials absorbed the “culturally conditioned work ethic” only to discover that it didn’t provide the economic stability or sense of personal fulfillment they were promised.
“Millennials are burnt out, disengaged, stressed, and treading water daily,” she shared. “The idea that one must constantly work hard, sacrifice personal time, and prioritize the company’s financial goals above all else doesn’t bring humans true happiness.”
Millennials know that starting the conversation around burnout is the first step to solving it, and they don’t really care how much their moms are quietly judging them for it.
10. Prioritizing work-life balance
Millennial kids were taught to embrace hustle culture, but now, they’re completely worn out by the constant grind. As a result, they’re drawing lines in the sand. They’re making balance their main professional priority, even though their Boomer parents quietly judge them for it.
According to generational expert Janet Granger, “Millennials were raised as the ‘always on’ generation and have nothing left to give.”
“The idea of constant availability, imposed by the ‘always-on’ culture, leads to unrealistic expectations,” she shared. “Millennials find themselves in a situation where work-related emails, notifications, and expectations permeate their personal lives, creating an ongoing sense of being tethered to work. The pressure to respond instantly to messages and requests hampers their ability to disconnect, fostering a never-ending cycle of work and anxiety.”
Millennials are doing everything they can to break that cycle, and judging them won’t stop them from finding a new path forward.
11. Spending money on self-care
Millennial kids have no problem spending time and money on self-care, even though their Boomer parents quietly judge them for it. They’ll pay good money for wrinkle-reducing serums and wellness retreats.
Millennial kids are always looking for the next new way to stay centered and protect their peace, which to them is worth its weight in gold.
Alexandra Blogier, MFA, is a staff writer who covers psychology, social issues, relationships, self-help topics, and human interest stories.