This question and the responses really highlight the generation gap. The X generation (I believe) spawned a new era in life called the “emerging adult” which can span from 18 all the way to 30. It’s a period of self discovery, learning, and determining what it takes to consider yourself an adult.
In previous generations, adulthood was reached much earlier. “What it takes to be an adult” was something that was instilled at a young age, and they were often doing those things before they even turned eighteen. For the previous generations, becoming eighteen made it official and were mentally and emotionally ready for the next steps in life (marriage, long term career, kids).
The emerging adult is typically not eager to enter those next steps in life and instead focus on further education, finding out who they are, and establishing life goals. Typically, marriage and kids are not even on their radar during this time. While they are legally defined as an adult, they often don’t feel like an adult until certain factors in their life change. And unlike previous generations, these “factors” are self determined, not ones instilled by their parents.
@rockerchick14 if you are interested in the road ahead of you, there are some great books on emerging adulthood that might help you not feel so weird. Jeffery Arnett wrote a great one that helped me get through that phase of life. It might even be helpful for your parents to read it, as it’s most likely new to them.