DU'ers born in the late 60's (66 to 70) do you relate to your Parents?

[KoKo]

When you guys were born it was tumultuous times. Many of you had parents who were going through Viet Nam times, protests, terrible economic times getting started as parents and a world much different from today.

If you are here, please, can you tell me how you relate to your times?
:shrug: Do you remember "Free to Be You and Me," "Electric Company appealing more than "Sesame Street" and Judi Blume Books?

What makes you "Different" from other generations or do you feel "No Difference?" :shrug:

[JanMichael]

1. I get on great with my parents. Born in 68' and apparently inherited that

year's attitute too.

My parents weren't radicals, matter of fact I think that they're MUCH more radical today than they were in 68', go figure?

What sets us appart? Beats me, maybe the last generation to have to play "Hide under the desk while the air-raid siron blows and pretend we're being nuked"?

[KoKo]

2. Interesting what you say, Jan. Does your age group get into "identifying"

as a generation. The fact that you might not, says alot about your indenpendence as a group.

I'm trying to get deep into your age group so that's why I'm asking.

Who are you...and how do you feel you fit into "your times?"

[JanMichael]

3. For one we're the children of the Boomers and upon graduating from...

...from HS and/or college we were met with the realization that unlike many generations we might not actually do "better" than our parent/parents economically.

The Bush I recession was rough on the college educated and we saw our prospects dim. Then the tech boom happened but frankly it didn't really have a super benefit for all Gen X'ers. I've never floated an IPO, made $5,000,000 then quit, for a game I created while stoned outta my gourd.

As a group you can read this from 1999. We're a mixed bag politically but frankly I've seen a Leftward lurch in my counterparts since 2000.

It remains to be seen what we'll accomplish.

[KoKo]

5. Thanks,Jan. What I've picked up is that your generation was a little more

"laid back" and more conservative than your parents but you didn't wan't to declare that? :shrug:

[JanMichael]

9. If a-political is conservative then fine.

Same as apatheistic is theistic I suppose?

There's nothing to declare about conservatism, slackerism maybe, conservatism no.

[KoKo]

40. Not RW Conservative but "prudent" conservative in that one holds one's

emotions in to an extent that the "Boomers" didn't. I don't know that you had "Boomer" parents and don't want to presume.

BTW, I confused you in your first post with JMach1 in Dubia,UAI...Sorry and I do know who you are from posts... I just was rushing in and answering while doing something else...but I think you are a companion and married to another of our DU'ers who used to live in Charlotte? :shrug: You just moved to NC? Being Southern (old school)I get all in a tizzy about mistaking who someone is when I really do know who someone is...and feel guilty..:-(

[fudge stripe cookays]

46. SOME of us are children of boomers...

some of us aren't.

My parents were both born in '32. My mom had me in her 30s, so we've never seen eye to eye on much. Too much of an age gap.

My parents were both half-assed Republicans. My dad died in 1980, but I have caused my mom to swing WAY to the left of where she was years ago. For that, I am PROUD.

[TNMOM]

4. Parents are pretty cool with me

They're pretty left-leaning for their age, actually.

[KoKo]

6. This post is going off to archives. Where ARE YOU! I need to hear from

you...please?

[KoKo]

7. It makes me sad that no one is here in this age group...but I will keep

kicking hoping some of you will be online after "baby is asleep." I can understand if this is the problem...you guys are PRIME! That's why I need to know what you are thinking!

[demgurl]

8. You asked, so here it is.....

I do not get along with my Dad. In fact, I claim him to be dead! My Mom divorced him after a ruptured ear drum and she always had threatened if he ever touched me, she would leave. He never did back then. My Dad is a whack job.

My Mom came to visit a few years ago and she called up my Dad. Why on earth? Oh well. She invited him into my home. She knows he is crazy. He actually flew off the handle at my husband in OUR house. I stepped between them and his hands wrapped around my throat. I was pregnant at the time. I have not talked to him since.

My Mom was in the room and she said she did not even see what happened. After all those years of what he did to her? She never stepped up to the plate and even said she never should have contacted him.

I speak to her now but only for the grandchildren. She and I have different life styles. I told her a few years ago that we were going through tough financial times and she said she wished she could help but all of her money was tied up in a $60,000 dance floor she was having installed in her back yard. Think that was a typo? Nope. She had a dance floor put in in her back yard. Along with a gazebo and a citrus orchard!!!

I live a much more subdued life style and try to be smart with my money. My parents and I are so different.

[KoKo]

11. Thanks and I understand what you are saying...I'm still getting to try

to understand this. What I hear from you as that you had a reaction to what you saw as "selfishness." I have to say I agree about what you observed..but it's only my personal observation..maybe there's more there that probing would bring out. But, hey, should we all be psychoanalysts to get along today? Why? and where does it lead.

:shrug:

[Taverner]

10. Sort of

I never felt like I did (they were "Breakfast at Tiffany's"/Rat pack era types) as a kid...but as I grow older my Dad seems to make more and more sense....

Scary...

But I do remember "Free to Be You and Me," "Electric Company" and "Sesame Street"...and I remember my Dad's philosophy to be the polar opposite. You see, during the 60's he was a cop in San Francisco, who specialized in riot control...fill in the blanks.


But I don't find myself agreeing with his politics or philosophies, but rather why he and my Mom grew apart. As kids we would always take mom's side. But looking at things now, it's perfectly easy to see why he and mom grew apart - they were two different people, and mom had a habit of playing manipulative games, and playing people off on each other. Dad didn't play the game, and was always singled out by her.

As for morals, ethics and philosophies, however, that's where Dad and I part company. I knew I was a lefty as a kid...(despite my brief stint as a College Republican in the late 80's). As a kid in the 1970's I had a semi-trinity of who I deemed as 'moral men.' Jimmy Carter (who was President at the time,) John Denver and Reverend Glenn Fuller (the preacher at our church), who marched at Selma with Dr. King.

Perhaps too much information, but I'm feeling self-reflective tonight.

[KoKo]

12. Thanks again, I'm so interested in your age group, I'm going to keep at

it.. Because your generation is like mine. We are "tweenies" never fit in with Boomers or X or whatever they wanted to categorize us as. But, YOUR generation is of biggist interest to me..because you are reticent and I have family members your age and identify with them, but don't understand always WHY they are so PRIVATE...

:shrug:

[Taverner]

13. I dunno I've always felt I was an X-er

but at the tail end of the X Gen...

Jeanene Garafolo, Margaret Cho, Kurt Cobain, Layne Stayley, Trey Anastasio...we're in good company!

[KoKo]

14. Another kick just because I'm trying to flush you guy's out....

need to hear from you, please...

[Taverner]

20. BTW...born in 1970

June to be exact

[KoKo]

28. "Tweenie Generations" ...yep, was one myself where you arent' here or

there, but took stuff from behind and before. Got it!

[proud patriot]

15. I totally relate to my parents they are 2 of my very best friends Born 69

I loved "free to be you and me"
Blubber by Judy Blume was one of my favorites from my
childhood . and yes Electric Company was way more
appealing . I also liked 321 Contact .

I don't feel any different :shrug: than other generations

[KoKo]

23. Neat! used to be that way here...but I'm still trying to get if you guys

are just a little more conservative that your parents..depends on how old your parent were when they had you of course. If your dad was Larry
King and your Mom was a "trophy wife" you might have been "concocted in a "test tube," but I don't think anyone one in your age group was in that group...but I think you guys were much more forward thinking than your parents might have suspected. :eyes:

[proud patriot]

38. My parents were hippies and my mom was 18 when I was born

Dads been a musician in the Bay Area my whole life .

When I was 5 just before starting kindergarten my
very young parents gave my Republican Grandparents
Legal Guardianship of me . I lived with them til I
was 13 then lived with my dad (single parent) til
I went out on my own .

So I was raised both conservative and liberal :crazy:

I am ever so slightly more conservative than my parents .

[CrownPrinceBandar]

16. Born in 1967...................

I get along with my folks, but I really don't think they "get" me. My parents just don't seem to get that even though I have a college degree, I can't find a job in my field or otherwise. The pushed me into college and thought that was my track to success. I guess they didn't count on Reagan and the Bushes.

[KoKo]

19. Thanks...you were born when my daughter was...I undertstand and her

through you...I need to understand. And, as I said in an earlier post on this thread, I'm from a "tweenie generation" myself where much was expected but there were few of us.

I'm trying so hard to understand where you all are...and it's good to hear from some of you. :-)'s

[susanna]

22. Yep to that, foamdad...

My parents, who I have a good relationship with, are of the "30-and-out-with-good-benefits" school. They do not quite grasp that the world has changed drastically. I'm working, but it isn't a great job OR remotely related to my original field of study (political science LOL).

My father became a Reagan democrat, but voted for Clinton the first time. Turned far right and voted for Dubya. We used to be able to discuss politics, but no more. At all. Mom is like me. She has been a dyed-in-the-wool Dem for a long time and we talk about issues with no real problems.

I generally relate to them, but I do think they idealize/romanticize the 50s a little too much...which tells me they don't like the changes they have seen in this country.

(To KoKo: Is this what you are looking for?)

edited for clarity

[KoKo]

24. Yes...Susanna...I'm looking for honesty...because I love you guys but

dont' understand you...and think you have much to offer but are "quiet folks" who don't always jump out with your opinions...

Thanks...trying to understand..

[susanna]

47. 'Tis okay.

I don't understand Boomers much!

According to most research I've seen, early Xers aren't big "joiner" people; they tend to be remarkably independent in views and ideas.

This is true of me personally, in every way. For example, I've been on DU for about three years and as you can see from my post count, I only talk when I have something to say. Your post gave me something to say...

It does not mean I'm like this in real life; actually, I am the most politically aware, active and outspoken of my parent's children, and my siblings often come to me for news and information about who's telling the truth. They know I keep score. :-)

[foreigncorrespondent]

17. My mum...

...is only 20 years older than me, so there really isn't much difference in how we relate.

I like the old rock and roll music from the 50's and 60's, as well as today's music, and so does mum.

My dad however is a different kettle of fish. He is a lot older, and I never had really much contact (mum and dad divorced when I was a month old) with him. So we do relate in different ways.

Now, I don't even have a relationship with him.

On edit, I was born in 1968 and mum was born in 1948.

[KoKo]

26. Yes...that's what I see, 20 years difference and in your generation it was

close enough to share music and other things. Not all generations are so lucky, as you saw with your father. Thanks! Did you get a spirit of change from your Mum, though?

[foreigncorrespondent]

43. What do you mean...

...by a spirit of change with my mum? Please forgive me, but I am not thinking clearly today. Not much sleep last night and I have had a pretty busy day.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

18. "What makes you "Different" from other generations"......

Had to think about his one for a tick...

As you said, our generation came into the world in the throes of social upheaval. I think some of us were introduced to social awareness at a younger age than previous and following generations.

[KoKo]

21. Did any of you think your parents were "way out?" Like the "Sunshine

Family" compared to "Barbie and Ken?"

[KoKo]

25. Please MORE of you late 60's Folks! Are you Out There????

If not then I think DU isn't mainstream.....not good...

[Taverner]

27. Keep in mind that we Gen-Xers are the boomers kids

In more ways than one. Most of my teachers were boomers. Most of the other parents were boomers. Although my parents were older than the boomers, I always felt like our 'real' parent's generation were the baby boomers.

A lot of us in Gen X felt we had to live up to what was started in the 60's, and many of us felt we should try to correct the failures of the 60's.

[KoKo]

30. What worries me is that some of you grew up feeling "guilt." That you

needed to finish something "started" that you weren't sure quite what it was, and maybe there was some rebellion but not a rebellion that anyone like your parents could quite identify with, because they didn't think of themselves as particularly "rebellious?
A few more questions because it was such a tumultuous time that nothing might apply? But, I see you guys/gals as quiet and unto yourselves unlike what might have been more "free spirited" parents...in your view. Meaning your parents might not have been how you viewed them, but how you "percieved them" or their "times?" :shrug:

[Taverner]

32. Well I can't speak for everyone

But I remember a love/hate relationship with the boomers. Many of us felt kind of a forboding sense of doom (the fist 20 years of your life with the threat of nuclear war, and a president who says we may be the last generation to walk the earth will do that to you.)

This may sound strange, but the show "Beavis and Butthead" by Mike Judge (an Xer himself) kind of described our relationship and view of the boomers. He had the hippy teacher, who was clueless (how many of us perceived them), the military jock teacher, who was clueless in his own way, and then the youth of America, a product of a lost culture, aimless and primal. Gen X wasn't represented as a character in the show, but was the viewer, observing society fall apart before our very eyes.

[KoKo]

33. I think you got it! Many GenX'ers had teachers who were OTT!

I remember my daughter saying a teacher forced her to watch a movie about seagull slaughter twice because she didn't think that daughter was "moved" enough by it on the first go around.

I think many Gen X'ers saw hypocracy too much or folks forcing their opinions on them too much...But maybe I misread your post or put too much into it of my own interpretation. "aimless and primal" I don't think that's true going out about GenX, I think focused and primal will be you all..but we need to wait and see.

But, what you say is what seems to be what I've heard.

[Taverner]

35. No I think you hit the nail on the head

A lot of boomers, on either sides of the spectrum, expected us to take up their causes and champion them as they did. And in many cases we saw hypocrisy in the boomers. We'd often questiont hat, if they made such a stand as hippies against corporate America, why they were so materialistic. It always seemed odd to us that Joan Baez lived in Marin, on several acres, and drove a Mercedes - yet still sung about Joe Hill...

But in many ways we found our own voice, through artists like Mike Judge, and Bill Hicks (although he wasn't an X-er per se, he was kind of like our patron saint.)

[KoKo]

42. I hear what you are saying. You guys were very observant about

hypocracy...I think.. But, there was something that was going on then and I wonder the children of today will see us as hypocrits somewhere down the line if we can remove Bush & Co.

Will they understand why we did what we had to do, or side with the PNAC'ers...:shrug: Who knows...we do what we gotta do in our own time.

Thanks for replying because what you said helps me figure this out...:-)'s

[Malikshah]

29. Yup--and my dad was career Military

Two tours in Vietnam
30 years
WP Grad, etc.

BTW-- No Great Santini shit here.

I relate to them pretty well.

[KoKo]

31. How are you and your parents dealing with what's going on in Iraq..and

did your growing up in a military family change you in some way different from the rest of your generation whose dad's got out of going as my family did?

Thanks...if you can answer this.

[Malikshah]

44. Hard to say, really

His first tour was before I was born--his second when I was around 4 yrs old. I wasn't aware of the war at that age.

As for growing up military--it's hard to explain unless you've lived it. It wasn't until I was in 2nd grade that I realized that most kids' parents weren't in the military.

As for growing up-- far from the Santini model-- we didn't have inspections, or have to call everyone sir, salute, etc. (I know that sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised at the questions I got later on in life)

There were some kids I knew whose fathers tried to run the family as a mini-army etc. They got on for a while, but upon retirement their wives usually served them with divorce papers, and the kids wouldn't have anything to do with them.

In that sense--our family was fine.

There are some problems though-- 1) I don't have a hometown. (12 different locales at least while growing up--usually moved every 18 months or couple of years) 2) Don't have close relationships with my relatives--rarely saw them 3) Have a hard time keeping long-distance friendships-- out of site out of mind--might sound harsh, but it was a coping mechanism that is ingrained in some, though not all, who move on a regular basis.

There are books on the subject and groups of Military Brats etc. online-- it is definitely an interesting life.

BTW-- The military's changed since my dad got out-- it's more like a business now-- folks are career minded, business oriented in their dealings-- that's not the way a military should run-- and we're unfortunately reaping the benefits of it.

As for politics-- I wasn't raised any particular way-- can't remember any political discussions--lots of historical/philosophical ones, but no political ones. I was a supporter as a kid of the status quo--after high school, though--as I learned more about life, etc.-- switched to democrat and have stayed. Still argue w/ the folks--but that's no biggie.

[AwakeAtLast]

34. Here are my thoughts

I was born in '70, but my parents are pre-boomers (barely). My parents listened to what I thought was weird at the time, New Christy Minstels, 2001 soundtrack, and early '70's country that was really awful. I think we are the Sesame Street generation. We were the guinea pigs for that and other educational shows, so I guess we benefitted from that.

Even though my Dad is considered a Viet Nam vet, I did not hear any talk about it until news accounts and movies in the early '80s. I even had a distant cousin who was killed in Viet Nam that I didn't even know existed until I was 16 or 17.

Economically, it is very interesting. Dad was a high school teacher and made enough to support Mom, me and my sister. No we didn't live in a palace, but there is no way that could happen in my family today (I am a teacher, too).

How do I relate to my times? I remember S. S. and Electric Company, must not have been in the market for "Free to Be You and Me". I have no recollection of that. I read a lot of Judy Bloom, but also S. E. Hinton (The Outsiders, Rumble Fish).

I think that what makes us different is that because of when we were born, we are a lot more serious about things. Not to say we are chicken littles, but I think we carried a burden not acknowledged by our parents or society. Others may disagree with that, but many people from my high school class were talking about this at my 15 year reunion last year.

[KoKo]

36. Thanks. Yes..a much more serious generation than what preceded you..

I didn't know that until recently. But what you say seems to be true and we missed it. We thought you would be happier than us. But, there's a seriousness that's deep and is hard to fathom for us.

Were "Creative Playthings Toys (wood blocks with no color or faces) foisted on you and were you forced to enjoy Joan Walsh Anglund's view of the perfect kids with "Norman Rockwell" scenes of kids in "Pumpkin Patches" or "Joys of Spring." Some Parents of those times were really into that stuff. Healthy faceless toys and Joys of Childhood.

I think GenX really thought their parents were "out of it." But, I guess it depends on what kind of parents you got. I think Gen X, though was the last generation of kids who had what used to be viewed as the "typical American household." After that things got "complicated." But some were of a newer lifestyle. I'm focusing on what could be viewed in some way as "mainstream?" :shrug: Kind of like what did you watch on TV in common..what did you eat in common and what did you play with in common.

You guys were just before the Computer Revolution generation and were the last generation to be just TV and buddies. After you guys is a whole other story..

[Hailtothechimp]

37. I was born in 1968.

In June, right after RFK was shot and before the Chicago convention. What an amazing year it must have been.

As far as my parents, I don't relate to them at all. They missed all the anti-war/counterculture stuff (not much of that in downstate Illinois)and were on the leading edge of the baby boom. My parents had 3 kids before they were 25, which couldn't have been easy for them, but they got along somehow. I give them props for that, but I'm trying very hard to avoid their mistakes with my own kids.

What mistakes, you might ask? The biggest one was not telling me they enjoyed being parents. It seemed like they were unhappy, and that my siblings and I were the reason. (They never said this, but it was pretty clear to me, at least).

Wish I had a happier answer for you, but I don't.

[KoKo]

39. I'm sorry they weren't happy and you picked that up. Who knows

what all our parents are into and what drives their lives. I always hope that my parents loved me..but never saw evidence of that, either. It's complicated. I did what you did. Didn't want to pass on bad stuff and in fact I don't know if the "bad stuff" was my own interpretation of what was there when in fact I never asked about it and it might have been not to do with me or with "them."
It was a very tumultuous time when you were born. Much bad stuff was goin on like now. Maybe it affected them and youin ways you don't know and they aren't aware of. Maybe they were just "unloving" parents. :shrug: Who knows?

[BigMcLargehuge]

41. No difference

Both my parents are my pals. It was different when I was a kid, but I am an adult now.

[Maestro]

45. No.

My parents were born in the 30's. They grew up in the booming 40's and 50's. Their outlook on life is totally different although they are now voting democrat because of their first-born, me!

My wife though relates to hers quite well. They were both hippies when she was born. Her mother is quite the unique person. Okay, strange, but in a nice sort of way. Her father has subsequently turned fundie and she no longer relates to him, but that is another story.

[Elidor]

48. Are you kidding? I AM MY PARENTS

If I had kids, I'd even dress them in lime green polyester jumpsuits, as my parents did me.

"Free to be You and Me," gah...you evil bastard. Just when I had gotten that song off my mental turntable! Another twenty years of doom unfolds...I hate that song....

[KoKo]

49. How about "itsy bitsy spider," and "it's not Easy Being Green..."

:D Green polyester jump suits? Where were those? Were you dressed as Kermit? :crazy: