I Want My Ex Back

As I searched the Web yesterday, I found an article, a blog, and a forum thread on “I hate Boomers.” In fact, Google returned a page of results for the statement.

So, as a Boomer, I wish to respond, with “I love Generation Xers.” I list just a few of the reasons why in this article.

Now that wasn’t always the case. When the first class of Generation Xers enrolled in my classes at The University of Oklahoma, I was bewildered. I’d never taught students who accepted nothing that I taught without questioning it, often in a challenging and disrespectful way.

I had to learn about Generation Xers or get out of teaching. So I started researching them. That led to a line of generation and other research on how people in segments differ. So the first reason that I love Generation Xers is because they spurred me into research that has become my passion.

At that time, I found adjectives like “cynics, whiners, drifters, and malcontents” that mostly Boomer writers used to describe Generation X. But as I worked with Generation Xers, I began to think of them more as they were later described - “ambitious, savvy, independent, pragmatic, and self-sufficient”.

So the second reason that I love Generation Xers is because all these adjectives somewhat describe them, and yet no set of adjectives can truly describe the diversity within Generation X.

Generation Xers’ unwillingness to be duped by a person just because they hold a position of authority, and their independent thinking and strong convictions comprise the third reason that I love Generation Xers. It’s ironic that characteristics that first frustrated me with them, I now consider strengths.

The fourth reason that I love Generation Xers is that they treat their children and careers differently than I did. As one of the oldest of Boomer women, I helped to blaze the trail into male-dominated fields and sacrificed time with my Generation X daughter in the process. So I love Generation Xers because they refuse to make that same sacrifice.

Fifth, I love Generation Xers because in spite of not sacrificing time with their families and children, they are still achieving success in their careers and businesses. In fact, they are achieving more and living higher lifestyles than anyone predicted when they were adolescents.

The sixth reason that I love Generation Xers is because they are patriotic and spiritual in an independent manner. These and many other Generation X characteristics have earned them respect as adults, and yes, even from Boomers.

And seventh, I love Generation Xers because they are just the people that their Boomer parents reared them to be. They didn’t portray the characteristics that we taught them exactly the way we imaged, but they do live those characteristics everyday, and this world is stronger and better because of them.