Boomer parents

[Freesamples]

Anyone else got a boomer for a parent that a) has no idea how the world currently works and b) loves to put the boot in and c) is absolutely delusional about how much things cost.

me, I love to sniff out a bargain, crowning glory the summer hols I’ve booked for me, dh and dcs. 4 star+ AI, 2 adults 2 kids, package £2k and in summer holidays. Absolute belter. All to be met with a chorus of how expensive that is and how much we’re over paying and how they’d spend no more than £1k on holidays for us (in the mid early 00s). Plus, don’t want to go there, they hate brits, it’s too hot. (All places we went as kids btw)

it can’t be just me

Goodness. How unusual. I thought 'Boomers' did nothing but go on expensive holidays, spending their unfairly acquired gains without a by your leave for your house deposit and inheritance, and selfishly making themselves unavailable to look after your children.
I think you've got your stereotypes a little mixed up OP. Maybe read a few of the multiple other boomer threads so at least you're on the same page with the other ageists?

Are you an adult?

Unless you are still reliant on them funding your life you know you can choose what subjects you discuss with them. Why are you discussing your mortgage interest rate with them? Why tell them how much your holiday cost? If you know what sort of reaction these topics will invite, just don't discuss them.

Exactly this.

I am in my 20s, I have 'boomers' for parents and they're not like how you describe yours are.

I agree with others on here you're masking the personality defects of your parents by using ageist discriminatory comments about an entire generation. It's just plain ignorance

Never mind, OP.

We'll all be dying off and what a wonderful world it will be then, full of you non-judgmental, unselfish people who bring up their children so much better and of course will never be intolerant old people.

The baby boomers were demographically a very fortunate generation - yes, there will be individual exceptions, but as a demographic came of age in period of ecomonic prosperity and were enough of them to continue to hold considerable political influence. They were also the generation that focussed on individual fulfilment and kicked back against the older generation - 'never trust anyone over 30'. That is why as a demographic they are so enraged to be called 'boomers' disparagingly - because they have become the older generation they enjoyed mocking - and they don't like it when they are the ones on the receiving end.

Possibly think about all the things you can do routinely now because "boomers" fought for your right to do them.

But did he apply 'blind' or did he hear about a vacancy and apply speculatively?

Big difference

Dad was a tradie and would often rock up to building sites and ask - his 'rep' got him jobs, as many working on sites knew him from various previous jobs

Blundering into a workspace filled with total strangers is a whole other thing

Everybody becomes the generation they enjoyed mocking. If they are lucky.

I’m sure every generation is shocked by what things cost- inflation over a decade or two will do that. I did the same about my niece ans nephews university accommodation costs. In my head I thought they should be around 3-4k and wasn’t sure why my sister wears moaning until she said it would be more like £7-10k That’s a very similar example but shifted down the years.

I was asking if someone who is bigoted and uses slurs about one group is bigoted and uses slurs about another. I think it’s pertinent.

I expect the answer would be “no, of course I’m not homophobic or racist”, which would be interesting, wouldn’t it? Why do otherwise reasonable people think it’s OK to be bigoted about older people?

But you can’t assemble a coherent argument in response.

@marigoldandrose "I agree with others on here you're masking the personality defects of your parents by using ageist discriminatory comments about an entire generation." - seems to have summed the thread up?

No mine are lovely though they do recommend where they went as so cheap and were shocked on how much it was for us (2 adults out of season versus 4 people in school hols!).

Though would worry about what that holiday is going to actually be like! A friends Dh was being a skin flint and booked a cheap package hotel - they moved after one night.

I’m a ‘boomer’ (cusp) and I don’t relate to the stereo type at all. Maybe it’s because I’m at the end of the scale.

I don’t like that all people my age group get constantly derided on though, it wouldn’t be acceptable for any other group of people.

I am that boomer. I was shocked last week to discover that £6000 was about the average cost of a week abroad for a family of four. I haven't been on holiday in years, no clue! Shoot me now!

It is incredibly insulting OP. My parents are 'boomers' although DDad died last year they were/are the most generous of people, helping 2 of my siblings with deposits. My DM is 70 next month and still works FT in a care role for minimum wage - she gives each of my Uni aged kids money each month to help them through and grumbles just as much as me at the price of things. My 3 siblings and I will inherit their wealth (house) if DM does not need care and for that I will be incredibly grateful.

Completely blind.

The conversation was 'why don't you try X Charity? They're based in London, but have roots in the area you grew up, so you know their MO'.

He emailed, asked for an appointment to discuss speculative roles (having no idea there was one about to emerge), which they obliged with. He turned up, and they said yes, in fact we do have a role coming up for you.

Is that what you mean by blind?

Kevin/Perry is that you?

Looks like the major failure your parents have made is how they raised you. They probably think you’re a bit of a tosser and giggle at “sticking the boot in” when you come out with phrases like “ absolute belter” about a shitty holiday you’ve booked.

My mother does think that young people today are snowflakes (my summation) and that it is no harder for them to buy a house than it was for their generation. Very fixed idea. I don't argue about it and maybe it's because their world has become a bit smaller, but they don't seem to 'get it' and I don't think they want to 'get it'. They are more concerned with their own needs for their lives (which we probably all are to some degree). I don't think they understand my life either really. They've never experienced a lot of what I've had to deal with, so it might be unrealistic to expect them to. They aren't bad people though.

Yup the most frustrating is when they need any maintenance works to house etc and turn every single quote away as it's "ridiculous" and harp on about how much it should be costing (which is prices they remember from at least 30 years ago) 😫

Not all ‘boomers’ are like this at all. My older family do this but we were brought up in poverty so most things are seen as ‘expensive’.

You've told us that you didn't live through the 80s as an adult without telling us you didn't live through the 80s as an adult, OP. It wasn't the Nirvana you seem to think it was. Ask the "Boomers" who were on miner's picket lines fighting to save their communities, or the people handing their keys back to the building society because the interest rates were rocketing, or facing unemployment due to the changes in industry, or women legally being paid less than men for the same job (the last slightly earlier but still a "Boomer issue")

Ironically, some of the people who benefited from changes during the 60s and maybe did have more chance of some good years because of it weren't even "Boomers", but the previous (Silent) generation. Somehow they escape the flak. The truth is, within every generation since the beginning of time, some have had it easier than others, but it isn't easier for all, ever.

Your parents are members of the 'Silent Generation'.

Everyone is acting like the generation after the Boomers wasn’t the FIRST generation to be worse off.

I'm a 'boomer' and a mother and I definitely don't do this. My parents, born Immediately after WW1, did though.

Why do so many people here discuss the cost of things like holidays and cars with their family? Don't ask, don't tell.