There’s no doubt about it: there are some things that baby boomers just don’t seem to be able to grasp today. From changing expectations of when (and who) you should be getting married to how you’re supposed to build a long and successful career, there appear to be certain issues that they struggle to understand.
Misunderstanding Boomers Today
But, let’s be honest, there’s nothing abnormal about this. In fact, it’s totally expected for older generations to question the decisions and lifestyle changes of the younger generations. After all, changing and developing is what keeps society moving forward — it’s an essential part of life and being human! Then again, however, so is the idea of struggling to come to terms with change. Here are several ideas and concepts that baby boomers don’t seem to be able to grasp.
1. Mental Health Issues Are Real Issues
Mental health hasn’t always been well understood, especially among older generations. So, it’s no surprise that boomers came into the situation with a very different opinion on things than younger people – after all, they were (mostly) raised to ignore their feelings and toughen up.
However, these days, younger generations have started to come to terms with mental health as a very real thing to be aware of and it seems to be something that we just can’t always agree with boomers on. They often see people struggling with anxiety and depression and think they’re complaining too much.
2. Getting Married Doesn’t Have to Be Your Life Goal
Everybody is raised with different values and ideas or expectations of what life is supposed to be like, especially how you’re supposed to create a family and so on. These days, however, traditional ideas of getting married young and having 2.5 children aren’t the only way people plan on having families.
Generally speaking, people have become a lot more open-minded than boomers. However, boomers just don’t seem to get that – they seem to think that if you have children before marriage or don’t get married at all, there must be something wrong with you!
3. Not Having Children Is Okay
Never mind not having children! Traditional views dictate that everybody is supposed to want children, especially women. In fact, it’s more than that – it’s a belief that if you don’t want children, there’s something fundamentally wrong with you, or it’s because you can’t have children, or perhaps you’re selfish.
But it’s become more and more common for people to choose not to have kids – either because they just have no desire to have children or they feel like they don’t have the time or would rather prioritize their careers. And this is something that boomers just don’t seem to get.
4. Setting Boundaries At Work Isn’t Lazy
Boomers have been conditioned to believe that life is all about work and that it’s a good thing to be willing to sacrifice everything for your job – your time, your sanity, and so on. There’s still a common idea among boomers that you should be totally willing to work overtime without pay and be treated badly.
However, those younger than boomers have challenged this idea. Just because we think it’s good to set boundaries at work and know what we deserve doesn’t mean we’re lazy! It means you’re standing up for yourself.
5. The Housing Market Isn’t The Same For Us As It Was For Them
One of the most annoying things to hear boomers say is that when they were your age, they’d already bought a house! Well, that’s wonderful for them, but it’s time to acknowledge and accept that the housing market was very different back then, and it’s just not as easy for us now. In fact, it’s not just “not as easy”, it’s far more difficult!
6. The “Good Old Days” Weren’t Necessarily Good For Everyone
Boomers often look to the past and talk about “the good old days”, and sure, perhaps they do see those times as being better for them than what they’re going through now. But what boomers often just can’t understand is that just because things were easier for them then doesn’t mean that times were actually better overall. And, it’s important to acknowledge that for them to have had a good experience back then, there were most likely loads of people having a terrible time! We’re talking about racism, homophobia, and more.
7. We’re Not All Precious Snowflakes – We Just Disagree With You
Often, boomers “call out” younger people and say that we’re “snowflakes” when we pipe up about something we don’t agree with or think isn’t right. Well, it’s not just because we feel offended – we actually just disagree with you fundamentally, and boomers don’t seem to like to hear that!
8. Riding Out Your Entire Career at a Single Company Isn’t How It Works Anymore
Times have changed, and even though it was totally normal – and accepted – to work at one company your whole life back in the day, that’s just not a thing anymore. Just because we’ve had a few different jobs or decided to move to a new workplace doesn’t mean we’re disloyal or impatient, the work environment has just changed!
9. Working From Home Isn’t An Excuse To Do Less Work
We understand that boomers find the concept of remote working odd, but they seem to equate working from home with not doing anything and being lazy. Well, we’d like them to know that, in many ways, working from home can actually be even more productive than working in the office!
10. We Wish Kids Could Safely Spend Their Days Playing Outside
Young people with children are often criticized for not letting their kids play outside more often, especially by boomers, because they let their kids climb trees and stay out all day. But what they don’t understand is that it’s not necessarily because we don’t want our kids playing outside – it’s often because it simply isn’t safe! Unfortunately, some things just aren’t the way they used to be.
See the World on a Budget: 11 Best Countries Frugal Travelers Should Consider Visiting
Many of us have been there; meticulously planning our travel wishlist only to be discouraged by the price tags. That’s when we realize that more often than not, it’s the most affordable trips that can bring the most joy in us. Don’t worry. We’ve curated a list of countries that will satisfy your wanderlust without emptying your wallet.
See the World on a Budget: 11 Best Countries Frugal Travelers Should Consider Visiting
Check Out These Top Travel Activities For Boomers
Exploring the world is an experience like no other, with unimaginable and jaw-dropping sights, unique cultures, and historical traditions to behold. Boomers have taken retirement to the next level by taking on the world as their vacation spot. And if you’re a boomer, we’re here to help you plan your next vacation with these top travel activities!
Check Out These Top Travel Activities For Boomers
The 10 Absolute Best Coffee Shops in the U.S.
Have you ever stepped foot into a coffee shop and automatically were greeted with the scent of freshly brewed coffee, freshly baked pastries, and music in the background? We don’t know about you, but the feeling of a warm mug in the morning and the delicious flavor of a freshly brewed cup of coffee is as good as it gets. Here are the 10 absolute best coffee shops in the United States.
The 10 Absolute Best Coffee Shops in the U.S.
The Hottest Trends in Boomer Travel
Boomers are known as anyone who was born from 1945 to 1964, and they currently make up for around ninety percent of the United States’ net worth and around seventy-eight percent of its assets. So what exactly does this have to do with booking a vacation? According to a study, a large percentage of boomers said they wanted to take an average of around four to five vacations each year. These boomers are mostly retired and have time to plan vacations, including the resources. So where are boomers flocking to and what are they doing? Below, we’ve compiled a list of the hottest trends in boomer travel.
The Hottest Trends in Boomer Travel
10 Things Destined to Vanish with the Boomer Generation
With each generation, things change, especially with technological advancements introduced yearly and new trends appearing. Younger generations are beginning to view what they believe will become less popular or even die with the boomer generation. As you continue reading below, we’ve compiled a list of 10 things that will die with the boomer generation.