These are the warning signs that you are becoming your parents

One in four Americans worry about becoming their parents (27%), including while traveling, according to a new study.

A survey of 2,000 adults evenly divided by generation delved deeper into this sentiment, revealing that the average person first realized they behaved like their parents in their 30s, but began to notice these habits even earlier – around the age of 20.

When it comes to acting like their parents, the results revealed that a quarter of respondents don’t mind taking on certain traits, but 38% try to avoid them altogether.

The survey asked respondents in which categories they see similarities between themselves and their parents – their food (cooking and eating) habits, their daily living habits and their language were the top three areas.

Also in the top 10 were their travel habits – and of all generations, Gen Z are the most likely to see similarities to their parents when it comes to travel (18%).

Conducted by Talker Research for Progressive, the survey delved further into the similarities respondents see between themselves and their people when they’re traveling.

The results revealed that two in five of all respondents admit to taking on the “airport dad” persona on their travels now (41%) by arriving at the airport early, coming prepared and keeping track of luggage.

Waiting until the last moment in the family, with Gen Z (17%) and Millennials (16%) finding they get food right before or while boarding a flight, while Gen X (15%) and baby boomers (19%) admit that he hit the bathroom at this time.

“Travel is an experience that can suddenly trigger our inner, parent-like behaviors,” said Sade Balogun, senior business leader for brand experience at Progressive. “So this summer, as millions of Americans prepare to travel domestically and abroad, we’re launching a campaign filled with helpful advice from Parenta-Life Coach, Dr. Rick. Over the next month, those looking to avoid parenting while traveling can find some help with some helpful and funny advice from Dr. Rick on our social channels and at airports like New York’s JFK, Los Angeles’ LAX, Atlanta’s ATL and Miami’s MIA.â€

When it comes down to it, 38% believe they have better travel habits than their parents, with children growing up stronger for it (43%).

If prizes were awarded during travel, the competition would be fierce – but baby boomers are more likely to win – “the weight of luggage is fair” (49%) and Gen Z admit they are more likely get lost in airport crowds and have the worst sense of direction (41% each).

On the other hand, respondents said their parents would win the prize for behaving like tourists (33%), being the biggest complainers (30%) and falling for tourist traps (23%).

The survey also asked specifically about Paris, France — knowing that people from all over the world may travel, or tune in from home, to see a different kind of award given out this summer.

Thinking back, nearly a quarter of respondents remember their parents wanting to visit Paris (22%), and 35% share this desire.

Americans know their parents well, predicting that if they visited Paris, they would say “bonjour” to the locals (27%) and take a photo with the Eiffel Tower in hand (27%).

Perhaps they are more like their parents than they think, as a third of respondents admit they would do the same (31% and 36% respectively).

However, respondents will fight against these habits instilled by their parents, as most Americans said it would be a priority for them to have different travel habits from their parents when visiting the city of love (62%).

“While the data shows ‘Parentamorphosis’ a condition that describes the moment when individuals begin to mirror their parents’ outdated behaviors is evident when you travel, there is still hope that you don’t become your parents,” says Dr. Rick, trainer of parenting life at Progressive.“I’ll be here for you every step of the way, offering helpful tips and advice on how not to parent when you travel. And remember, you really don’t have to to clap when the plane lands.

INSPECTOR’S TRAVEL HABITS YOU MAY HAVE TAKEN UP FROM YOUR PARENTS

1. Getting to the airport early – 25%

2. Forgetting something at home – 19%

3. Finding the gate before doing anything else – 18%

4. Going to the toilet immediately before/during boarding the flight — 16%

5. Making friends – 15%

6. Buying a lot of food – 13%

7. Taking food immediately before/during boarding the flight — 12%

8. Talking too much – 9%

9. Leaving the plane window with the shade up – 9%

10. Noting landmarks from the airplane window – 9%

THE MOMENTS THE ENGAGED FIRST REALIZE THEY ARE BECOMING THEIR PARENTS

â— Working on cars with my dad

â— When shopping, bargain to the max like my mom and grandma

â— When you start talking the same way or giving the same advice they did

â— When talking to my children, I would go through all the names of all the other children before I got the right name

â— When my children pointed it out

â— When I went out to eat and got a bunch of packets of peppers

â— When I was watching the shows that mom likes

â— When I understood something that had happened in the past from their point of view

â— When I started waking up extra early to start my day and realized that it actually makes me more positive and productive

â— When I started saving for retirement in my 20s

â— When I have gone the extra mile to get a cheaper price for a product

â— I use an envelope to write what I need from the store

Survey methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 Americans evenly divided by generation; The survey was commissioned by Progressive and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between June 25 and July 1, 2024.

We source from a non-probability framework and the two main sources we use are:

– Traditional online access panels – where respondents choose to participate in online market research for an incentive

– Programmatic – where respondents are online and given the opportunity to participate in a survey to receive a virtual incentive that is usually related to the online activity they are engaging in

Those who did not fit the specified sample were dropped from the survey. While the survey is in the field, dynamic online sampling is used, adjusting targeting to achieve specified quotas as part of the sampling plan.

Regardless of which sources a respondent came from, they were directed to an Online Survey, where the survey was conducted in English; a link to the questionnaire can be shared upon request. Respondents were awarded points for completing the survey. These points have a small monetary value equivalent to money.

Cells are reported for analysis only if they have at least 80 respondents and statistical significance is calculated at the 95% level. The data are not weighted, but quotas and other parameters are set to achieve the desired sample.

Interviews are excluded from the final analysis if they fail quality control measures. This includes:

– Speeders: Respondents who complete the survey in a time that is faster than one-third of the average interview duration are disqualified as speeders

â— Open-Ended: All verbatim responses (full open-ended questions as well as others, please specify options) are checked for inappropriate or irrelevant text

â— Bots: Captcha is enabled in surveys, which allows the research team to identify and disqualify bots

— Duplicates: The survey software has “deduping” based on digital fingerprints, which ensures that no one is allowed to take the survey more than once

It is worth noting that this survey was only available to individuals with internet access and the results may not be generalizable to those without internet access.