Comments on: Generation X as Parents: Wildly Overprotective

By: dsohigian

dsohigian — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 18:04:04 +0000

@il_maestro – great commentary from the trenches. I agree that there will be repercussions from the over-parenting of Gen X'ers, but it may not be what we commonly expect. The children today are part of a new generation (post-Millennial). Starting with the kids in 1st grade or so, we are seeing the next version of the “Silent” generation that grew up in the shadow of the Great Depression and WWII. Much like Gen X's parents (who are mostly part of the Silent) they will grow up in a world that is very orderly and expects them to fall in line and be quiet. They will have their overbearing parents to watch over them through their youth but when they get out into the world they will probably be looking for new authority figures. College professors, much like those back in the early 50's will label them as compliant and focused on the correct path to success.Sadly these kids will probably not make the greatest parents themselves. Like the Silent generation they will pretty much leave kids to fend for themselves, which is what resulted in the attitudes of the Gen X'ers today. The pendulum swings back and forth with over parenting of children leading to adults who want to give their children too much freedom. And thus the cycle continues. I agree with you that awareness of our generation's tendencies is the best antidote to the extremism we often see in our generation. You can't change the generation you were born in, but you can be conscious of how your attitudes are shaped by it.

By: il_maestro

il_maestro — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 17:19:53 +0000

A few teachers and I were discussing Gen X parents today during lunch. Our main concern is that Gen X parents are raising children who will not be able to fend for themselves in the real world once they leave the nest. Their parents have been so involved in every aspect of their lives, that students don't know how to advocate for themselves. And while they may not know how to advocate for themselves, they are learning that they are entitled to special treatment and/or consideration. For example, the 16 year old, home schooled stuttering college student and his mother who unfairly accused his professor of discrimination. Who called the New York Times and made the story front page news? It was not the college or the professor. Later, the stuttering student "felt bad" that he had ruined this professors reputation, but the damage was done. I don't think that he nor his mother thought of the repercussions of their statement and actions. Again, typical Gen X behavior: Lack of respect for authority.

In all honesty, I'm also a Gen X'er. The more I read about Gen X'ers, the more I identify with the facts about my generation. But I find that the majority of Gen X'ers cannot come to terms with the truth regarding our generation. The do-nothing generation, as we were labeled in the early 90's, are doing too much for their children. We will see the results of their over-parenting in about 20 years, when their children are parents themselves. As I interact daily with over-scheduled and over-burdened students, I get the feeling that the pendulum will swing. I bet that todays kids will let their own children enjoy their childhood. I also believe that the sense of entitlement might fade as the realities and disappointments of the real world teaches them that mom and dad can't get them out of trouble all the time, or into the "right" college, or the corner office at their first job.

By: Elisabeth

Elisabeth — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 12:03:10 +0000

Awesome points. I am also an older X and all I've heard about our generation is that we're unmotivated slackers? Really? I can't think of anyone my age that fits that mold and I'd like to note that my peers are raising responsible kids who are polite who will hopefully be self reliant.

I work with great college aged students but there are a lot of hovering baby boomer parents holding them back from growing up. Our children are not a trophy, but unique human beings who should be nurtured and encouraged, but not coddled. Ironic that we're getting maligned for when we were born as well as for our goal to raise responsible children who will contribute to society. I don't want my children to be reality TV stars.

By: Mardi

Mardi — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 06:44:07 +0000

Oh absolutely! I homeschool too and am an Gen X parent.

By: dsohigian

dsohigian — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:58:08 +0000

@Lalo – Thanks for the comment. Your approach is very Generation X: take matters into your own hands because the establishment is bound to fail you. And I agree that the world our kids are headed into won't be a picnic (at least for the next 10-15 years). The challenge is that the message we give our kids often gives the opposite results. It is likely that our generation's kids (mostly Millennials and Homelanders) will be very different than us, particularly in their feelings towards institutions and group-think. We are individualists and would hope to instill that in our children, but the world they will encounter once they leave our care will REQUIRE group action and trust in institutions, much like the GI Generation encountered leading up to WWII.

By: Lalo

Lalo — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 03:45:24 +0000

I am a genX. I homeschool. I believe in only myself – an independent – to be responsible for my child's education. I expect my child to grow up working HARD, playing hard & taking risks. I expect her to have to fight for her place in the world. I don't coddle her like silly boomers who boosted the "self esteem" of genY. Self esteem is false. Being able to stand on your own & tackle any challenge the world throws your way doesn't leave any time for contemplating "self esteem." My child's busy. I allow boredom & time to explore & play. What I find is that my compatriots are spending more time with their kids & rejecting traditional schooling and parenting ideas for their own, which to some may seem "controlling." This may seem so superficially. Iam wary of & reject the establishment. Not just for rejections sake, but because I don't want anyone else telling me what to do or how to live my life. I don't need some authority telling me how to school my child. Our family unit is the priority. Most genXers seem to have a deep concern for the world their kids are headed into & entertain no illusions that it will be a picnic.

By: phil

phil — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 00:17:16 +0000

Let's be honest. These kids are robots. Mind numbed. Not too bright. You know as well as the rest of us, that they were raised to follow the crowd. Look at me!! I'm different!!! I just happen to look and talk like everyone else in my generation.

By: dsohigian

dsohigian — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:24:07 +0000

@Stevie - I agree Homelanders may not be the right name, but I sure hope that Indigo doesn't stick (I am not a fan of the ideas about Indigo Child). And yes, many Gen X parents homeschool or send their kids to private schools (Waldorf school in our case).

The friends children (extended family) is a concept I can buy into, but often the Gen X circle of close friends is very small.

By: Stevie

Stevie — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:53:59 +0000

Got a little lost in this post and in the discussion. I'd venture to say that the attitude extends to friends children. As in treating them like one's own children.

As for schools. They suck so bad, why bother sending them. The Xers i know homeschool. The follow the "bosses" rules is interesting idea too, because the boss is Mum & Dad. So they won't be following the teacher or the boss. They will still be guided by their parents? Maybe?

I didn't read the source article from MSN. But it seems like it contained a bunch of malarkey anyway.

And what happened to the Indigo Children. The homelanders… that is a stupid name. I might have to stop with the generational interest.. Can we sign a petition or something?

By: Generation X: My Kid Rocks. Yours? LOSER! | The Gen X Files

Generation X: My Kid Rocks. Yours? LOSER! | The Gen X Files — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:01:18 +0000

[...] Digg Verizon seems to have a thing for generational themes in their ads. Jessie X pointed it out in her post about a kid in a recent Verizon ad, and now a friend pointed this one out to me: Kinda sums up the attitude of Generation X as parents. [...]