Dear Baby Boomers

Dear Baby Boomers,

I’m a millennial. And, I’m damn proud of it.

And, as an esteemed millennial, I get sick and tired of enduring the criticisms associated with every baby born after 1981. We get a malicious rap for being entrepreneurial visionaries who believe the world should cater to our every beck and call. We also get slack for coming off as “spoiled” and “selfish”; however, if I do say so myself, I’m convinced that we’ve catapulted the world to an entirely different level. From conquering the world of technology (hey, Facebook and Instagram!) to turning the idea of innovation into full-blown businesses, brands and embellished lifestyles, millennials are making their own rules and calling the shots when it comes to building their own happiness.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come across baby boomers (adults born between the years 1946 to 1964) who constantly question me about the notion of getting married, having children, buying a house, pursuing a doctorate degree and even doing other stuff I don’t really have no interest in – it’s like they take every aspect within their own life and try to apply it to your own. It’s absolutely ludicrous!

Yes, I’m in my late twenties and, yes, I’m dating; but that doesn’t automatically place me back into the 1950’s where women were simply seen as baby ovens and housewives. The modern women of today want more: we want the career, we want the success, we want to be able to work within our passions and, as a result, many professional women are waiting to pursue such life-changing goals until an older age. Millennials are focused on creating a plan of stability for themselves before diving into any other added responsibilities. Now, don’t get me wrong, there are a slew of young women out there who are doing it all (and they are slaying), but a large majority of millennials are choosing the route of abstaining from walking down the aisle and investing in overpriced diapers and formula.

Ever since I can remember, I’ve been encouraged to pursue higher education. It was drilled into my psyche as a Vanguard elementary student while middle school laid the foundation for considering university admissions, undergraduate majors and preparing for the SAT. I’ve been groomed to work industriously towards what I want to achieve. Both my mom and my grandmother were pillars of strength within my life and they never stopped urging the importance of “getting those grades”. Growing up, I watched as both women worked endlessly to help support their families, leaving little room for them to truly live by their own terms. When you’re an adolescent and you’re taught to think on a higher tier, you start to take note of your personal strengths while starting to cultivate your own reality of life.

So, in all actuality, I was raised to be this “independent” woman. I was taught that you don’t have to depend on a man to fulfill your every desire. I was also told to reach for the stars and not settle for anything less, yet, when I choose to live my life by those standards, I’m deemed as “selfish” and “spoiled”.

Nah. I’d like to think of myself as “enlightened”.

Of course, I respect every single baby boomer to the umpteenth power; however, I just want them to take a step back and not be so judgmental when it comes to how us millennials move about the world. It’s like they refuse to live with the little monsters they’ve birthed. We went to college, we signed for the student loans, we drudged ourselves into debt, we searched for that “good job” you said college would provide, we didn’t choose the path of least resistance – but, we continuously come up short when it comes to living within your cookie cutter dream. I mean, can we ever catch a break?

Photo Featured:I do not own the rights to this photograph.

Sincerely,