Three posts today, but this one had to be first.

I saw a post on my personal fb what the problem with millenials are. I think we should fully discuss this concept.

Yes, I’m going there today.

Now, reading the age range of millennials being 1980 to 1996-2000(roughly), I call bullshit on this first. You are telling me my teenagers and I are in the same group of people? My grandparents and parents weren’t in the same group, and they were two different generations, and they had kids young too.

Fine, I’ll take it.

The first point I want to make it that, millennials are lazy and entitled. If you go back and read the last paragraph I wrote, this generation was born in the peak of greed, wall street peaking, and keeping up with the Joneses was at its peak. It was taught to be the best you had to show it, even if it meant debt.

Tell me why we are surprised as a society that this new generation is stuck on being flashy and getting material bullshit at any cost?

We are also the generation that is charged out the a** for college. At one point, college could be paid for by just having a part-time job. Those days are long gone. Work study and part time jobs mean nothing. Mom and Dad having a saving account for school means nothing. You are more likely to borrow money to attend college to some degree. I have friends who finished college, and it cost 60,000 to attend. Just for a bachelor’s degree. Don’t add-on if you want a master’s degree, or if you are pre-med or pre law.

We wonder why people rather get a job than go to college. Rather have the pay raise then to pay off a huge debt like that.

I think the biggest insult is that we are lazy. Um…..don’t think so. I think it’s the company you keep. I know a lot of people my age who give as much as they work into causes and their careers. We are lazy, but there is a surge of women having kids later in life, because they want to work to establish themselves first before having a family. Huge lie that’s peddled. I also know a lot of us who work, and are tired of being paid crap wages to do so.

Take bartending for a profession. In most of the country they are paid 2.13/hr plus tips. Now if it’s a slow night or all kinds of variables add in, some people get only 2.13/hr. You wonder why we are taking action for a pay raise. We were taught part of the american dream is if you do the work, you can take care of yourself, and reward yourself.

Not really the case anymore. I think the scary part to it is, even with a degree, you still are broke. Not just bartenders, one huge lie is people wh work at McDonald’s are asking for raises, and these are just teens. No. The average age of service workers are 32. My age. They have families. Some even went to school, and are stuck with service jobs. Think about that. Anytime you go somewhere, and you request a service, that isn’t government related, are asking for a raise, and frankly, I think they deserve it. That’s child care workers, EMTs, janitors, fast food, CNAs, Caregivers to the disabled/elderly, maids, you name it. Think about it, even though the ambulance is charging 1000 for the ride and service, how much do the actual workers get paid? Not much. Lets not get started on the military and what they pay to their soldiers, not officers…….

Truth is, it’s depends on who raises you, which is a point I don’t think is addressed too often. If Mom and Dad gave you everything, then yes, you come into the world being a lazy ass thinking you deserve to have everything handed to you. If you came into the world to a single parent, you see the world differently. If you had shitty values as a kid, you just may be a shitty person. If your parents were humbled people, you definitely see the world differently as well.

I was blessed enough to have people around me who stressed material crap is nothing on this earth. You can’t take it with you when you die. It loses value the minute you buy it, and unless it has sentimental value to it, it doesn’t matter. It’s about what you do in life that matters. Who you surround yourself with,how you treated others, and task you perform is what is remembered.

I stress this to the next generation of kids in my house, and my troop. If you we really want to know who created the “Lazy, entitled” generation older people speak of, look to the past. New generations are a reflection of the generation before us. Baby Boomers created Gen X. Gen X created Milennials. Milennials created the ‘pioneers'(don’t ask, I didn’t make this up). My grandparents took a lifetime to get where they were at their peak. Hard work, multiple skills, and being humble. My mom did the same thing. She also embraced my creative streak, and still continues to do so. She did also went into debt falling into that stupid debt trap of being flashy. It was then we saw effects of it all, and she sat us down and told us “never fall into the trap of being someone else. You be you. If someone can’t deal with that, cut them off”. Bankruptcy is never a fun process. It’s very humbling, and will teach you a hard lesson.

One huge problem I have which goes deeper is grouping people. I’m technically a millennial. I came from a single parent home, and had everything stacked against me statistically. I also had the best tribe of adults raising me too. They embraced my creativity, even when schools cut the arts. They taught me from a young age to understand politics, and respect both sides. To vote my conscience not the lesser of the evils. To be respectful of others, unless it’s not returned. To defend myself, and those who can’t. To give back to those in need any way you can. To be humbled and nice. To carry yourself with dignity and respect. To not knock hand me downs, or cheaper versions of things. To be educated inside and outside the classroom, and work hard for it. Education and hard work isn’t something can be taken away from you. To not see color, but realize others do, and you have to prove them wrong every chance you get. Being a female wasn’t a crutch, it’s was and always be a beautiful blessing. Lastly, your brain is a muscle, always use it, and exercise it.

With all that said, I’m not a millennial. I’m not anything but me. I denounce the stereotypes that come with that label, and every other label I’m grouped in. The faster we stop this grouping bullshit, and see the person for who they are, this place will be a better place for the next generation to takeover.

You just have two groups of people: Nice people or assholes, simple as that.

I feel that most people who have the opinions of millennial base those off of news reports and what they hear. Riddle me this, have you got back into your community, or even talked to a group of people in their 20s or 30s like myself(34)? I’ve been told I’m a rarity. I’ve been told I’m snobby and a nut job for expecting too much, and holding on to good values that maybe be dated.

“Your children are a reflection of what you show and teach them”. In my case, my people expected the best, because they gave the best. They were innovators. They challenged the establishment. They hated injustice in every form.

In closing, you want to know why millennial are “the way they are”, begin at home. Began with who you keep company with. You are only a reflection of who you keep company with and the values instilled in you.

I vowed as a young mom, my kids would have the hard work, hustle, always a brighter side, fight for the small man, know your shit, and be the best you can be lessons that my military family showed me.

It’s time to start asking ourselves, who is to blame fo the stereotype or fact(depending on who you talk to), and how we change it. If we don’t, we will have round two of worse.

“Fix your backyard first before you criticize someone else’s” – Oliver Adams Jr. Product of the depression of the 40s, civil right movement of the 60s, Air force Sargent, Truck driver, carpenter, mechanic, father to three, grandfather of 3, great-grandfather of 4, from Savannah, Georgia, and great teacher.

~CSM~