I find the whole generational generalizations thing to be fascinating. Some of it resonates but you know that the characteristics given for an entire generation won't match up to everyone's individual experience. USA Today ran an article today comparing and contrasting the different parenting styles of Boomers (aka hellicopter parents), Gen Xers (latchkey kids whose parents divorced) and what might be the parenting style of "Millennials." From the sidebar (which kinda sums it all up better than the article):

Baby boomers
Born 1946-64, though some say 1943-60

Doting parents who have earned the term "helicopter parents" for possibly meddling too much in the lives of older children, particularly college students. They get along well with their offspring and often try to spare their kids the pain of failure. They seek "quality time" with their kids.

Generation X
Born early to mid-'60s through late '70s to early '80s

Protective and concerned about societal influences, particularly because many were latchkey kids left at home while parents (often divorced) worked. They want to spend more time with their kids. Dads are very hands-on and arrange work schedules to be involved in day-to-day parenting. They take great pride in family stability and also are proud of the fact that many mothers opt to stay home.

Millennials
Born in late '70s or early '80s to 2000 or later

Their good relationships with their own parents may lead millennials to move back home with their kids to form multigenerational households, especially early on when they may need financial help. They embrace technology and allow their kids computer time. They are likely to pull back from the overscheduling of their youth so lives are more balanced. They may allow children more freedom to be creative and less tied to structured activities.

Reading these, it almost seems like parenting is evolving with the Millennials expected to work out the negative side effects from past generations of parents. The multigenerational household thing is interesting, too, given that's how most of our grandparents (if you're an Xer) grew up. Do these characterizations resonate with you or do they feel too general and contrived?

On a related note, I definitely think that the mommy and daddy blogging phenomenon is being fueled by Gen X parents. What used to be a more isolating experience for Boomer women (pregnancy and childbirth), and one where dads stayed on the sidelines, appears to have come out of the closet led by media savvy Xers wanting to provide sites for moms and dads to connect and find support. It also feels like for my generation, having a child is a defining experience. Something to write a book about, launch a website, create children's albums. Examples: Courtney from Respect Rx sent me a site created by one of the founders of gURL.com all about pregnancy/birth/baby. Former indie darlings Luscious Jackson are reuniting to make a children's album. I'm sure there are tons more.

Update: From Ypulse reader Kris (sent via email):

I think the studies on parenting styles ascribe too much importance to the birthdate of the parents and not enough to the birthdates of their children. I think parents tend to follow the trends in place when their children are born, balanced with their own experiences. Case in point: I am a later Baby Boomer (born 1959) and my husband is a GenX (1965). Our sons were born in 1999 (when I was 40) and 2001, making us parenting contemporaries with late GenXers and early Millenials.

Our parenting styles draw from all three descriptions. I helicopter my youngest a bit, but hey, he's only 5, and I am working on helicopter removal so that he starts developing the self-confidence to handle things on his own. My husband has chosen a lower-paying job that enables him to be home with the boys every night, but primarily because his own father worked nights and wasn't around much for his kids. I choose some structured activities for my kids (T-ball, gymnastics) because they are fun and the boys love it. I am fascinated with how differently they respond to their ample helpings of unstructured time ("Mom, I need to do arts and crafts, RIGHT NOW!")

What seems notable to me is how the three heavily child-centric parenting descriptions differ so dramatically from American practices just 150 or 200 years ago. Then, the man was kind. The woman was property valued for her ability to work and bear children. The first-born son was prince and any other sons were backups. Daughters were investment properties (dowry). Kids were supposed to work, stay quiet and stay out of the way. This model is still in place in other nations.

Kinda makes you wonder what Americans 200 years from now will think of how we raise kids in the early 21st century, eh?

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