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Saturday, September 29, 2018

Thoughts on generation gap

Let us look at household where 3 generations live under one roof.

Gen 1 Age 60+ retired
Gen 2 Age 35+ working
Gen 3 Age 10+ in school

G1 developed a life style when they were G2 and want to maintain it even though it may be a different time and place.

G2 has a newer lifestyle than G1 and financial responsibility for themselves as well as G1 and G3. They feel sandwiched between G1 and G3.

G1 is very much in what is current because that is all they know. Very hard for them to understand G2. Forget G3. G1 depended a lot on G3 when they were too young to go to school. After going to school they have to learn to be independent.

So how do we close this generation gap?

Here is a thought. As we get older we know that physical and mental capabilities tend to slow down and so we have to learn to adapt. Also in day to day living we see changes in kitchen appliances, transportation, media, technology and accept the change. In fact we often see people refusing to change struggle and work harder while those who accept change know how to make life easier for themselves.

So here is a thought. It is much easier if G2 connects with G1 when they finish education and start working. The moment G3 decides to live with G2 they very quickly connect with G2 or live in a retirement community with like minded G3s. When G1 get married and have children G0 then G1 will surely understand how their parents raised them from babies and start to connect with G2.