Living

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Melanie Munk, Features Editor munk@heraldnet.com   Published: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 Here's how kids can get along with baby boomers By Sarri Gilman Herald Columnist There has been more than enough said about how to relate to the young adults in the work force. Those of us who are older, late 40s to mid 50s, are getting whiplash trying to look behind us and figure out what to offer this younger generation. It does occur to me that it may also be time to orient them to how to successfully work with boomers. Here are some rules for engagement with boomers: We are not your parents. When we are in a meeting, don't blurt out "You remind me of my dad." That's actually not a compliment. Don't ask why, just go with me on this one. Keep in mind the motto of the baby boomers: We are forever young. This is from an old Bob Dylan song, "Forever Young," which has been remade enough for younger ones to know the lyrics. You just may not realize that this one particular song is like a theme song for the boomer generation. Keep that in mind when you see us dressed in jeans, baseball caps and sunglasses. It's our theme wear. Stop texting us. No person over the age of 48 can see those tiny little letters in the cell phone to text you back. Even with glasses, Lasik surgery and contacts, we get nauseous looking at those tiny little letters. While texting is not as interesting to boomers as an old-fashioned face-to-face conversation, don't take this as a slam on all of technology. We love to find out what's new and hot online. Share with us the groovy tools you know about. Put on your patient face as we coordinate the eye-hand connection to the keyboard and mouse. We love trying new things. Boomers are just as impressed with technology as you are, and we are especially interested in anything that saves us time. Time saving is a big one for boomers. We suffer from being too busy. If you teach us to save time, we will follow you anywhere. Boomers are conversationalists. It's not to be interpreted as an interrogation. We like to talk, in person, face to face. Indulge us with some eye contact and conversation. Don't stare at your screen and click your mouse while we talk. We think really dark thoughts when you stare at your screen while we are talking. We are happy to offer you healthful vegan lunches. Just speak up and suggest a place where you like the food so we don't have to guess. As you have probably noticed, we make everything into a project, including where to eat lunch. The secret to impressing a boomer is your generosity. The ways you give back to the kids in your neighborhood, the time you give to take Grandma to a doctor appointment, the weekend you spent cleaning up a trail at Mount Rainier -- we really love hearing about this. We see all the ways you recycle, drive small cars, eat vegan, and we know the world will indeed be a better place. You have given us all hope. May you stay forever young. Sarri Gilman is a freelance writer living on Whidbey Island and director of Leadership Snohomish County. Her column on living with meaning and purpose runs every other Tuesday in The Herald. She is a therapist, a wife and a mother, and has founded two nonprofit organizations to serve homeless children. You can e-mail her at features@heraldnet.com.

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