Sounds like you have a Millennial of your own.

Don’t mind if I do join you.
I’d like to share this…

The Millennials

Growing up as a teenager, life then was relatively easy and carefree. Enjoyed a fair amount of autonomy but not without occasional debate and heated deliberation with my parents, on guess what, principles, virtues, conduct and character, you name it. Their definition of most of which were preordained and hard-etched in their minds, expected to be imbibed as the nurturing and guiding principles of my youth. Some I embraced, the rest were the essence of my petty arguments with them.

My inner self was always shouting, albeit silently, “…your time was different…”; “I’m the new generation…”; “it’s the calling of the times!…” I did manage to reason out to mom and dad “the calling of the times” clich?, which almost always solicited silent responses from them both. To this day, I don’t even know if they accepted my views against theirs.

There wasn’t a popular social term back home for our generation. The old folks would simply refer to us youngsters as “itong mga batang ito” [Grrr… these kids!] . And so back then, so to speak, I was the “millennial” from my parent’s point of view. Self-absorbed, quite cocky, know-it-all kid, but not quite irresponsible, spoiled or anything like that. I did measure up to their aspirations of a good kid with a sense of responsibility. Kaya lang, bukod sa pilosopo daw, matigas pati ang ulo {Although beyond being philosophical they were also hard headed]. I was young, with a lot of energy, adventurism and curiosity. There were plenty of exciting new challenges to be met. I was restless.

Then the cycle of life continues. I am now where my parents once were. Three grown-up kids, “millennials” I call them. I see myself in them. Life with my kids is generally tranquil. Occasionally, I’d call their attention on this and that, get them back-in-line sort of thing. I hear them shout back at me, albeit silently, “dad, our generation is different from yours”; “you grew up incessant on your own beliefs”; “it’s the calling of the times, dad”; “it’s our turn!”. Really, thought I heard those before.

And so I remain, the father that I am, cautious but supportive, a jar of wisdom cookies to be had if you will, and to an extent, a metaphorical rudder to help my kids stir through their lives, safe and sound. Hurry now, offer good while it lasts.

TGIF to you too., have a great weekend!

Have a good weekend! Go niners !!

Keep up the good work and cope with the millennials

Tom

Laura

Thanks!
Laer