Millennials have truly lived. We are the generation that found out someone broke up through the removal of a MySpace top eight member. We learned the importance of counting (by not going over a 200 text message limit a month). We grew up having to use a GPS for directions, not a phone. The evolution of technology has truly been amazing to live through. We are also the first generation to have any question answered in under one second, which has helped us evolve into thinkers and questioners. Moms are now asking why. Why do we say things or why do we do that? You may notice moms are no longer doing the things their mothers or grandmothers did.
Millennials are breaking generational curses.
To understand what breaking a generational curse means, we must first know what a generational curse is. A generational curse by definition is a habit passed down from previous generations (parents, grandparents, etc.). These aren’t necessary bad habits, but some don’t fit with today’s society or current lifestyle.
I may have my own passed-down behaviors and habits that I no longer want to do, but I also wanted to get other opinions, so I asked the girls of Knoxville Moms which generational curses they are stopping.
Here is a list of the generational curses we are ending:
- One of the more popular changes I have seen is eating out. You may hear your mother’s voice saying, “We have food at home,” but I find more parents are favoring eating out. It could be the busy lifestyle or rising grocery store prices, but parents aren’t using that phrase as much anymore.
- One mom said moving away from family is the curse she broke. Many families live generations deep in the same community. She moved states away and hasn’t regretted her decision. She loves her family deeply, but didn’t feel the need to put roots down where she was born.
- Medication and therapy has had a huge shift. You can find a very diverse opinion on medication and therapy from a 30-year-old vs. an 80-year-old. Parents today aren’t afraid to medicate themselves or their children, or attend therapy sessions. I am very happy and thankful to see this shift in behavior. My favorite saying is, “It’s okay to not be okay.”
- There has been a huge change in child discipline. In the ’80s and ’90s, spanking was the ultimate threat and form of child punishment. I was spanked and I haven’t turned out to be a psychopath, but parents today have found very unique and individualized ways of punishments. My son learns well through time-outs, but others may have success with taking away electronics/toys. Every child is different and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all punishment. Today’s parents aren’t afraid to try different things.
- Another mom said she wasn’t pressuring her teens to figure out their future immediately (I second this). I am a high school teacher and see so many teens trying to pursue jobs and careers their parents want and aren’t as successful or happy (which is key) as they could be. Choosing what you will be doing when you’re 60-years-old at 17, is a huge decision. I also love the swing back into trades professions. In the 2000s, there was a large push for college education. There is currently a huge gap in tradesmen due to this unfortunate push. Now, more kids are pursuing jobs in welding, plumbing, electrical, etc. This is amazing considering 18-year-old welders make more than I do as a teacher.
- Letting kids ask, “why” is another curse we are breaking. I can proudly say (so far in my life) that I haven’t said “Because I said so” to my son. We collectively agreed that explaining the whys in life is important, even if it’s because mommy is tired. Another topic that ties into kids asking why is validating your child’s feelings and emotions. Long gone are the days we tell our kids to stop crying because they are too big. All children have emotions and some are bigger than others. It’s important to understand why they are upset and to help them understand the why as well. This helps both the parent and the child with communication, especially as they get older.
- I now see parents prioritizing their marriages and many are taking trips without their children. Once a year, my husband and I try to go on an overnight trip. We have amazing grandparents who love to keep our son and this allows us to relax and recharge our marriage. Happy marriages = happy families.
- I am most happy to see moms putting themselves first. We all know our children are important, but if a mom isn’t healthy, she can’t be the best mom she can be. Moms are dedicating time to going to the gym, pampering themselves, finding ways to build confidence, taking much-needed breaks from their children even if it’s for just a few hours, and more. We love our kids more than anything, but we need to love ourselves too.
