I Remember When I Was Young

I Am a Baby Boomer

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

Growing Up a Baby Boomer

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 tap your foot to. In contrast, today’s music 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.

Ironically, baby boomers now face the highest divorce rates, especially in mid and later life. The children have grown up, and many are influenced by today’s “anything goes” mindset.

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

Everyday Life and Values

People dressed up to go out to dinner. Men wore ties and jackets. Women had special going-out dresses. Today, the only rule seems to be wearing something — anything — that covers most of you.

School was for learning basic skills: English, spelling, mathematics. Education mattered because it secured a job and a future. I worry about younger generations. Many no longer feel the need to read, write, or spell — technology does it for them.

Technology Then and Now

As I get older, I find it harder to master new technologies. Baby boomers did not grow up with computers or mobile phones.

For years, all we had was a black-and-white TV. The phone stood in the hallway on a stand. You couldn’t fit it in your pocket. It had one function: to talk — after dialing the number manually.

My first encounter with a mobile phone was in my late twenties. A real estate agent owned it. He was proud of it. It was the size of a TV remote and sat on a battery as big as a car battery.

We didn’t have phones that did everything.

Childhood Freedom

As kids, we were inventive and resourceful. We played in our spare time — 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 remember playing in the streets until the sun went down. At seven years old, I caught a bus, a train, and walked a mile to school. There was no fear of predators hiding behind bushes. There was a much higher level of trust.

Reflection

To the sociologists who created generation theory — of course your environment shapes your thinking.

I’m glad to be a baby boomer.

I probably won’t have to deal with the fallout from many of the world’s current issues.

Till next time,

Calvin