As a proud member of Generation X, I often chuckle at the scenarios that unfold when my Gen Z adult children and I talk about certain topics. It’s like being with a bunch of aliens who have landed in my living room, ready to show me the “right” way to experience life, television and work.
Let’s start with television viewing. Back in my day (I can’t believe I just typed that), we had three channels and an outdoor television antenna that needed to be adjusted by hand during storms. Now, we can stream just about everything. Swiping through endless options as if we are choosing a dessert at a fancy restaurant. Gone are the days of running to the fridge for a snack and back before the commercial break ends.
What about slang? My kids have an entire vocabulary that sounds like a mix of a foreign language and a game of Scrabble gone rogue. I asked my son what “riz” meant. He looked at me like I was too old to use the term. And don’t get me started on “yeet.” I still can’t figure out if it’s a verb, a noun, or just a noise they make when they throw something.
Then there’s the world of computers. I remember typing my high school papers on a typewriter. I got really fancy in college and used a word processor. My kids, on the other hand, view computers as extensions of their bodies. They can type faster than I can think, and they have a special language made up of emojis and memes that I’m convinced are decipherable only by the chosen few. My youngest was home for the weekend recently, and I asked him to help me set up my new laptop. I thanked him when he finished. He responded, “You’re welcome, boomer.” I thought about grounding him, but he is 21, doesn’t live here full time, and I’ll need him the next time our internet goes out.
Let’s address fashion. Gen Z has elevated thrift shopping to an art form. AND I LOVE THIS!!! They can turn a pair of '90s mom jeans (which I wore proudly in the '90s, thank you very much) into a runway look. Meanwhile, I’m over here trying to remember if I should still wear skinny jeans or if I’ve officially aged out of that trend. And what about Spanx? Are they still a thing, or can I unload all those very elastic, very uncomfortable pieces? Anybody?
And let’s not forget about work schedules. They talk about “work-life balance” while I’m still trying to figure out how to balance my checkbook! I vividly remember the days when we clocked in, put our heads down, and prayed for lunchtime. My kids, however, have mastered the art of “strategic free time” and “flexible hours.” When I ask them how they manage to get things done, they shrug and say, “It’s all about productivity hacks.” I just nod along, wondering if I should start taking notes or if I should stick to my tried-and-true method of caffeine and chaos.
So here we are, living in this delightful sitcom of generational differences, where I still think of “going viral” as something that happens when you eat bad sushi. Each day is a new episode filled with laughter, confusion, and the occasional eye roll. I may not understand everything about their world, but I sure do enjoy the show!
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