My theory - GenX vs Millennial parents

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I think some moms are just over anxious nuts, regardless of age or generation. I'm young gen X, and I can't believe that in 6th grade, the moms still organize a MS Facebook page, plus separate WhatsApp chats for: (i) sixth grade; plus (ii) every class. Dh and I join because otherwise you have no idea what's going on, so it means I'm now on 7 different WhatsApp chats for my 11 year old. And the stuff these women post is unbelievable. "For Mrs. Williams' class, the supply list says that several items are for keeping at home. Do we need to bring those on the first day???"

These people obvious don't have jobs because, one, they wouldn't have time or energy to care about this crap if they had a job; and two, no one that low functioning could hold a job for more than a week.

OP here… YES this is exactly what I am talking about!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I think some moms are just over anxious nuts, regardless of age or generation. I'm young gen X, and I can't believe that in 6th grade, the moms still organize a MS Facebook page, plus separate WhatsApp chats for: (i) sixth grade; plus (ii) every class. Dh and I join because otherwise you have no idea what's going on, so it means I'm now on 7 different WhatsApp chats for my 11 year old. And the stuff these women post is unbelievable. "For Mrs. Williams' class, the supply list says that several items are for keeping at home. Do we need to bring those on the first day???"

These people obvious don't have jobs because, one, they wouldn't have time or energy to care about this crap if they had a job; and two, no one that low functioning could hold a job for more than a week.

It comes across to me as serious anxiety. You can tell their kids think they are crazy.

I’m not slightly concerned about anything related to the first grade and you can tell it bothers the other moms with anxiety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Millennial here. We all sort of think Gen X was the worst generation. So, maybe we just don’t want to be anything like you?

I think boomers are the worst but X’ers have this insanely annoying need to be special / unique / laid back / not like other people and it’s so obnoxious

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look at a college parent facebook page for a true read on the helicopter parents.

This. There are women on the Vandy parent pages who want recommendations for cooks or delivery services to make their incoming freshmen a healthy breakfast M-F. Because they’re worried the students won’t figure out how to hit the cafeteria before it closes. Don’t get me started on the But How Will He Do Laundry threads

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am x and have a kid whose friends parents are mostly y. I have not noticed this. I notice that they drive crappy cars and wear t shirts with sayings on them.

I am a millenial and this is accurate. We drive crappy cars because many of us don't care. The shirt thing is true too, though I can't explain why.

Parenting isn't that different otherwise. I grew up hearing Boomers say that the next generation was going to be terrible and not ready for life. Par for the course, OP.

[Anonymous]

I'm an X (1980) and my sister is Y (1988) and we have nothing in common at all. Some is temperament and the different parenting we had due to the age of our parents when we were each born, but I think she is an overanxious parenting nut. It gets worse every year to the point that its getting nearly impossible to visit her. She's also really sanctimonious and judgemental and loves to tell me all the things her young children will not be allowed to do when they are teens (that my kids do as teens.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I think some moms are just over anxious nuts, regardless of age or generation. I'm young gen X, and I can't believe that in 6th grade, the moms still organize a MS Facebook page, plus separate WhatsApp chats for: (i) sixth grade; plus (ii) every class. Dh and I join because otherwise you have no idea what's going on, so it means I'm now on 7 different WhatsApp chats for my 11 year old. And the stuff these women post is unbelievable. "For Mrs. Williams' class, the supply list says that several items are for keeping at home. Do we need to bring those on the first day???"

These people obvious don't have jobs because, one, they wouldn't have time or energy to care about this crap if they had a job; and two, no one that low functioning could hold a job for more than a week.

Well, that's the problem. My kid is in high school and while I'm not on individual class groups, I'm in facebook groups for the parents of the school in general, as well as both sports teams he is/was on, and performing arts because he plays an instrument. I'd love to quit facebook, but if I want to know that practice was cancelled/changed time, etc. the only way to receive that info is through the parents facebook group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an X (1980) and my sister is Y (1988) and we have nothing in common at all. Some is temperament and the different parenting we had due to the age of our parents when we were each born, but I think she is an overanxious parenting nut. It gets worse every year to the point that its getting nearly impossible to visit her. She's also really sanctimonious and judgemental and loves to tell me all the things her young children will not be allowed to do when they are teens (that my kids do as teens.)

YES! OP here again. My sister and I have a 5 year split and same….

[Anonymous]

I’m Gen X and my kid’s college FB page is mostly legit, practical questions that I haven’t seen the answers for on the college website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look at a college parent facebook page for a true read on the helicopter parents.

+1 I work with a Gen X parent whose kids are all in college and she regularly tracks their locations on their phones! And then she'll text them to say something about where they are! Like, let your kid live their life, Big Brother!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at a college parent facebook page for a true read on the helicopter parents.

+1 I work with a Gen X parent whose kids are all in college and she regularly tracks their locations on their phones! And then she'll text them to say something about where they are! Like, let your kid live their life, Big Brother!

Lol. I bet my Boomer MIL would have done thar if she were raising college kids today. When I met her, she was reading DH's Facebook messages regularly. She claimed that she didn't know how to make a page for herself and wanted to see pics posted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I think some moms are just over anxious nuts, regardless of age or generation. I'm young gen X, and I can't believe that in 6th grade, the moms still organize a MS Facebook page, plus separate WhatsApp chats for: (i) sixth grade; plus (ii) every class. Dh and I join because otherwise you have no idea what's going on, so it means I'm now on 7 different WhatsApp chats for my 11 year old. And the stuff these women post is unbelievable. "For Mrs. Williams' class, the supply list says that several items are for keeping at home. Do we need to bring those on the first day???"

These people obvious don't have jobs because, one, they wouldn't have time or energy to care about this crap if they had a job; and two, no one that low functioning could hold a job for more than a week.

Good points. I see these types of questions ALL the time. It never ends. I’ll throw out another theory- people are really lonely. They either don’t have a network or they just use these types of questions as a vehicle to connect with others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at a college parent facebook page for a true read on the helicopter parents.

+1 I work with a Gen X parent whose kids are all in college and she regularly tracks their locations on their phones! And then she'll text them to say something about where they are! Like, let your kid live their life, Big Brother!

Oh I hate when people track their college-aged kids. I find it completely invasive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look at a college parent facebook page for a true read on the helicopter parents.

Yes! I dropped off freshman DC on Friday. The school’s parent Facebook page is horrifying. Parents complaining about every single thing. The closet size. Construction. That parents can’t stay for first night fireworks. Needing every last detail. Squandering an opportunity to support their kids toward independence. I almost unsubscribed, but it’s like a reality show I can’t turn away from!

My sense is most of these parents are Gen X.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at a college parent facebook page for a true read on the helicopter parents.

Yes! I dropped off freshman DC on Friday. The school’s parent Facebook page is horrifying. Parents complaining about every single thing. The closet size. Construction. That parents can’t stay for first night fireworks. Needing every last detail. Squandering an opportunity to support their kids toward independence. I almost unsubscribed, but it’s like a reality show I can’t turn away from!

My sense is most of these parents are Gen X.

oh wait till millennial parents start sending their kids off to college. I'm betting they will be way worse.