We the Baby Boomers 

                One of the things that I can say about being a boomer is that our idea of work ethic is early to bed, early to rise, and work hard throughout the day.   Nowadays, it seems to be all about staying out late, partying, having

fun, and if you are late for work or don’t show up it’s no big deal.  For those of us who are running the companies of today, it is a big deal.  This is the age of entitlement.  Generation Y has reaped the benefit of Boomers hard work, advancement in technology, and the economic growth.

Everyone has a cell phone; the average age of receiving a first cell phone is 11.2 years of age.   Nearly one in 10 children age 5 has a cell phone.  Although technology for cell phones has been around since the early 1900s the first actual hand held cell phone made its maiden call on April 4, 1973.  (On an interesting side note this is also the year that the Supreme Court ruled in the Roe vs. Wade case making abortion legal in the United States.)

That means that the Baby Boomer generation had gone from 9 years (for boomers born in 1964) to 27 years without the convenience and headaches of cell phones and the accessibility it provides.  How in the world did we manage without them?  Actually we managed just fine.  We didn't want or need to be accessible 24 hours a day.  We believed in hard work, following the laws of society, church, family, and appreciating what we had.  The Y generation is more rebellious, tied to all the latest technological advancements, and waiting for the next new gadget to fill their time and minds.  We dated and flirted in real time.  Social media has taken the personal interest out of dating.  Boomers read books, played board games, and hosted holiday parties where the entire family was there and happy to be so.  In this day of change, just try to get even half of the family to sit down for one meal a day. 

Having said all that, I am a Boomer, I raised three children, and I hope I did a good job.  I believe anything beyond that is out of my control. When a child becomes an adult, it is up to them to make the choices that define who they are and the path they take.  In the next blog I will discuss some of the trials and hardships we faced as a baby boomer and some statistics that you might find interesting! Until next time, take a moment to pull out a board game, dust if off, and invite your adult children over to play! It will be a memory you will hang onto forever! 

Author:  Donna S. Hopwood
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