Family ties for Millennials

COVID hasn’t been the only thing sucking the joy out of families this year! Social unrest and contentious politics have also divided families across generational and political lines. In the larger scheme of life, none of these other things really matter. What matters is faith and family. But when these disagreements leak into discussions or quick posts and comments on social media, they start destroying both. I’ve seen it in my own family. So please millennials, here are a few things to consider before you write off your backward parents, out of touch grandparents, or that wacky aunt!

1. People have different backgrounds, experiences and cultures. Your folks, who grew up in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s were raised by the greatest generation and had grandparents who lived through two world wars and the great depression. We had riots, gas lines, and inflation. You’ve not experienced anything like that. So try to see where your elders are coming from before you decide to write them off as being silly and backward.

2. Your holidays are numbered. They’re even more numbered for your parents and grandparents. So while it may be tempting to spend birthdays, Christmas and other holidays doing anything else but spending time with family, there will come a time when that’s not even an option because they won’t even be there! Choose wisely.

3. Love them where they are. My Aunt Dot was extremely disappointed that she would not see a woman in the white house before she passed a way. She was probably as far to the left as I am to the right. But I loved her humor and her creativity and the love she sent to all of us! I’ll never forget how she went out of her way one early morning to drive down and say goodbye to my mom, sister and me as we prepared to go back home four hours away. She didn’t have to do that, but that small gesture left a deep impression on me. This is what it means to be kind, gracious and loving! I loved her for those things and let go of any other differences we had. Knowing her blessed me, and what a tragedy it would have been if I had let our differences divide us.

4. Keep your sense of humor. Lighten up. Not everything is so deadly serious! Find ways and reasons to laugh with each other, not at each other! If you do that, that’s what you’ll remember in the years to come. If you don’t, bitterness and hard feelings will just make you rot from the inside. Be the better person.

5. Your children are watching. They learn from you how you want to be treated in your golden years. If you want to be ignored and mocked in your later years, make sure your kids witness you doing that to your parents and older relatives! But if you want a rich family life with family, aunts, uncles and cousins, show your children how to cherish those kinds of relationships now! They will learn it from you.