Check it Out
A senior lady’s grandson said he introduces her to his friends as his grandma – the hooker with a drinking problem.Then he went on to explain that his grandma likes to hook rugs and insists on using a particular travel mug while in a vehicle so there won’t be any spills.
Years ago the population was divided into two generations – young and old. Now the population is divided into six different generations.
The GI generation, born between 1901-1924, experienced the Great Depression and the Second World War. As a result they are community minded and never whine or complain.
The Silent generation (born 1925-1942) are loyal and respectful to authority. They were children during the Great Depression and some fought in the Second World War.
Baby boomers, born between 1946 – 1964, are competitive and hard working. And they still remember the days when the family gathered around just one screen – the television.
Generation x, born from 1965 to 1980, are described as independent and self reliant.
The Millennial generation, born between 1981 2000, are technical, receptive to new ways of living, and love to take sel es. Life is what happens to them while they’re looking at their smartphone. I saw a sign the other day that said: “Sorry – no Wi . Talk to each other like it’s 1993”.
Generation z is the people 17 years and younger who don’t remember a time before iPads, iPhones and social media. I saw a cartoon with a dad holding a rake and saying to his teenage son, “No it can’t be done online. You actually have to take the rake outside.”
In spite of all the differences in these various generations, life seems to be the richest and most ful lling for everyone concerned when all the generations participate in life together.
As an example, there have been care homes that have brought the concept of combining the care of two generations in one facility. These facilities have senior accommodation and a child daycare centre in the same building. The two types of care facilities share rent and staff costs, but more importantly it helps seniors and children bene t from the enthusiasm and caring attitude of one another. The seniors have the time and skills needed and the children gain the love of grandparents when distances often separate them from their own extended families. It’s a win-win situation.
A while ago I listened to a news story about a retired marketing executive who spends his senior years volunteering at a paediatric ward. Twice a week, he spends his days in the neonatal intensive care unit cradling premature babies when their parents can’t be there. Not only is he helping the babies, but it has proven extremely rewarding for him as well.
Here, on the prairies, the concept of generations working, living and sharing together has been thriving for decades. Family run farms often have three generations enjoying life to the fullest. In spite of the huge differences in each generation, the lyrics of a very old children’s song still prove to be true. It goes like this … “The more we get together, the happier we’ll be.”
