But Mo’OM…I’m on an ODyssey!

Where are they now? In this economy, probably on the same couch.

Are your parents sick of your couch potato ways, asking you why you aren’t using your education or at least applying for a job at Starbucks? Are you sick of trying to explain why your life plan has changed every six months to no avail? I have just the comeback argument for you: the Odyssey years.

In this classic piece from David Brooks of the New York Times, there are about 6 phases of life these days: “childhood, adolescence, odyssey, adulthood, active retirement and old age.”

So basically, that time you spent your savings to live in New York City jobless, or the fact that your next goal is to save up for a trip to Bali to find yourself, or even your latest six-month job search are all part of the “Odyssey” years, which is kind of like your second adolescence. You know, the one that began after graduation when your biggest ambition was to work for Urban Outfitters. So tell your parents, your family, your nerdelicious in grad school that you’re just on an odyssey, dammit, and that maybe they missed out on some crucial development by rushing into things, or at least some fun. But don’t harp too much-you might need their couches sometime soon.