The baby boomers I know are quite an exciting and talented group of people.  They grew up with parents who worked hard and seemed to have instilled in them a sense of responsibility and giving back.  The generation before them grew up in times of labor intensive jobs and less discretionary money.  I resist the temptation to generalize usually, but to write this blog takes a bit of generalizing.  It seems to me that baby boomers were born into a work ethic and parents who wanted many things for their children. Therefore, they grew up with more than adequate housing, clothes, food and education.

Now they have grown and matured.  Boomers tend to be responsible, work hard and give to their children. (however, this has come with a downside). Many boomers who watched their parents struggle and overcome have not instilled in their children enough about struggle, choices and responsibility. They have been so eager to give to their children, that many of their children do not know much about the hardship and struggles that they may face in their own journey.

With the economic turndown, it seems that there a new generation that is somewhat baffled that “times have changed”.  They continue to expect that they will always have cell phone service, tech tools, college educations and travel experiences — that is the way they were brought up.  They aren’t familiar with want, choices and going without.  They grew up with parental credit cards, gas in the car and someone else paying car insurance.  In some ways, wonderful parents have found that they have ill prepared their children for these difficult times.

Difficult as this learning is for some,  wonderful stories have surfaced.  Some young people are volunteering their spring breaks to help others instead of heading south or going to the beach.  More young people are getting part time jobs and helping out with family expenses and certainly beginning to contribute to their college education – realizing that responsibility is part of growing up.

Sometimes baby boomers are the sandwiched generation. They are working hard, carrying about aging parents and doing their best for their children. Some have told me that they love their lives – they just don’t have time to enjoy what they do have.  Perhaps they will be known as the generation that changed what the “norm” looks like as they engage their families in their struggles – victories and losses.  The baby boomer generation might teach everyone a little bit more about wisdom, enthusiasm, clarity, laughter and joy.

THE HARDEST THING TO LEARN IN LIFE IS WHICH BRIDGE TO CROSS AND WHICH TO BURN.

Tags: Baby Boomers, Cell Phones, Discretionary Money, Economic Turndown, Hard Work Downside, Hard Working Parents, Parental Credit Cards, Sandwich Generation, Work Ethic