You’re on Twitter and Snapchat; they’re on Facebook. You post one or two photos with a caption; they post a whole album complete with narratives.
They want you to use the landline to call the movie house about the screening time, while all you need to do is look it up online. They want careful and certain order in doing things, yet you can finish tasks your own way, faster with the same results. Your parents belong to Gen X, the analog generation, and you belong to Gen Z, all wired up and digital.
I am a Gen X parent, and I am quite sure that there have been moments when my own kids felt that I couldn’t understand their ways, means, and manners. I’m sure that you’ve felt the same way, too.
But rather than wallowing in those my-fam-cannot-understand-me moments, try to connect with them. Understand how your Gen X parents are wired, so you can appreciate why they do what they do.
Here are some tips on how to decode and connect with Generation X.
Know their music. Chances are, many of today’s song “covers” were originally created by Gen X or their idols. Playing music from their times is like walking down memory lane for them. Ask them about songs and their own youthful memories, even their past loves. Catch the faraway look and grin on their faces. You’ll get to know each other better doing this.
Try doing things their way. If they insist, no matter how you disagree, try doing things their way once or twice. It may be a test of your limits, but it is also a way to respect them. If you think there is a better way, sit down with them and evaluate so you can align on how to make things better.
Talk to them face-to-face. No matter how updated your messaging apps are, nothing beats personal conversation with your parents. It is a way for you to love and be present to them. You can share everything by talking. You’ll realize then that you share a common world, despite your generational differences.
Make your family part of your life. If you feel nothing is going right, the world is against you, and no one understands, your family is there for you. Always connect and converse with them. Constant connection with your family, despite the age difference, will do wonders.
At the end of the day, we only have one fam to love and be with! Go and connect for real!
This story first appeared in Fish Magazine Volume 16, but has since been updated.