Every generation is different; we all know that by now, but how different is the generation commonly known as millennials from past generations when it comes to raising their own kids? If you are a parent of a ‘millennial’ you may have already noticed some big changes from how you were raised, and this week’s blog entry can just help you to better understand these changes from a societal point of view (not to criticize, but more to embrace our society’s transformations)
In order to address this hot topic, we do need to acknowledge that the world and basic human interactions have changed due to the technological revolution brought by the Internet. New ways of communication have forever changed the parenting scene in multiple ways like access to information and, of course, the ability to share, stay in touch, and communicate with hundreds (if not thousands) of people through Social Media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
The Google Grandma, Neighbor, Nanny, Confident, Friend…
Young adults have found on the internet amazing ways to find the answers to newly parenting concerns. Recent studies have shown how more than 80% of ‘Millennial Parents’ go to Google to find tips on how to nurture and raise their children. Also, today 87% of new parents admitted having shared pictures of their children vs 47% of ‘Baby boomers’ parents.
Parenting Style
While past generations gave kids a more family-centric approach and allowing kids to have an independent life by sending them off to play with others; new parents are more concerned about their kid’s emotional well-being; becoming a ‘Helicopter parent’ which is considered as an over-protective approach or over-parenting by obsessing over their child’s education, safety, and extracurricular activities. This new tendency is being arguably a harmful way to educate our kids by not allowing them to confront their problems and develop the necessary life-lessons needed for their future success. Many parents still think that being more involved in your child’s life will give them better tools at being successful, not knowing that these behaviors have proven to lead to another set of concerns like economic independence.
Parents relying on their own parents
Many new parents are still financially dependent on their own parents due to student debt and their over-protected childhood. Reports show that millennial parents received more than $10,000 annually from their parents, as well as emotional support and primary childcare with more than 10 hours of week of babysitting.
New Family structures
Social acceptance and new family compositions by LGTBQ parents and single parenting are the new norm on how the family concept has changed in the latest years. Even marriage is now considered as a plus to a new family, rather than a must-to for older generations. Also, numerous cases of women choosing to be single parents are also growing when this condition was more prominent in underprivileged societies and minorities.
A Space for Religion, or maybe not?
Nowadays more than 35% of people who have been married since 2010 have a spouse with different religious beliefs. Considering that also 9 out of 10 millennials now agree with interracial marriage and cross-cultural marriage, there’s no question on why many religions are losing followers at alarming rates. Religion used to be one of the major pre-requisites when choosing a life partner back in the 1950 and 1960s, but now a more progressive approach to human-relations has directly impacted the foundations of religious beliefs thus directly affecting the celebration of new marriages.
To be continued…?
Many other factors can still be analyzed, but I would love to hear back from you on how these new times have transformed those core-values that you grew up with. Maybe this could be the chance to start a series of blog posts related to this fascinating subject; please comment below and let me know what you think! 😊
Lina Correa
Mom & Bricks 4 Kidz Kendall Owner