I Remember When I Was Young

I am a baby boomer. I don’t have a notion of whether that is good or bad, or whether I am proud of it. I just am. That is what I have been labelled because I was born between the years 1946 and 1964.

I wrote a story last week about the differences between the generations.

This is a follow-up focusing on my memories of growing up as a baby boomer.

I was not born on the cusp, but pretty much right in the middle, in 1956, to be precise.

Sociologists in the 1960s created the generation schema. This led to what we call the generation gap. They wanted a label for why people of different ages think and believe differently.

Social, cultural, and tech challenges shape our life experiences, values, and worldviews. Thus, depending on when you were born, different generations have different beliefs. Their communication styles and views on technology, traditions, and ethics will differ.

Growing up was very different for me. When I try to explain it to younger generations, like Millennials or Gen Z, I often get strange looks. It feels like they think I have two heads!

So many things were different. I was raised on rock n’ roll music. A time when you could actually understand most of the words in a song. The songs had a beat you could easily tap your foot to. In contrast, today’s music (noise) leaves you questioning its value.

Families (for better or for worse) were families; they did things together. My parents, like many others, stayed together for the sake of the family. In those days, divorce was frowned upon.

Surprisingly, baby boomers face the highest divorce rate. This is especially true in mid and later life. The children have probably grown up. They may also be influenced by today’s “anything goes” mindset.

People had more respect for others and their property. You built your wealth and basic necessities, like houses and cars, through hard work. You didn’t rely on corruption, theft, or scams, which are common today.

People actually got dressed up to go to dinner. Men, for the most part, wore ties and, in many cases, a jacket, while women had special going-out dresses. These days, it seems the only rule is to wear something—anything that covers most of you.

It was also a time when you went to school to learn basic skills. English, spelling, and mathematics were essential components of an education. Getting through school was important for securing a job and getting a start in life. I worry about younger generations. They no longer feel the need to read, write, or spell. Technology handles that for them.

As I get older, I find it harder to master new technologies. Baby boomers did not grow up with computers or mobile phones. I can remember that for many years, all we had was a black and white TV. A phone was something that stood on a hall stand. You definitely couldn't fit it in your pocket. It had one function: to talk to people, but only after you dialled the number manually.

We didn’t have mobile phones that did everything. My first introduction to a mobile phone was in my late twenties. It was with a real estate agent. He was proud of his mobile phone. It was about the size of a TV remote. It sat on a battery as big as a car battery.

As kids, we were much more inventive and resourceful. We played in our spare time. Outside, yes, outside!

Video games didn't appear in my life until much later. I was already past childhood when they came along. Technology certainly changed baby boomers' lives.

I also remember playing in the streets until the sun went down because you could. At the age of seven, I caught a bus, a train, and walked a mile to go to school. There was no concern about some pervert hiding behind a bush, ready to grab me and whisk me off into oblivion. There was a much higher degree of trust.

To the sociologists who created this generation theory, of course your environment influences your thinking. I'm glad to be a baby boomer. I probably won’t have to deal with the fallout from the world's current issues.

Till next time,

Calvin