Geriatric Millennials – Please Stand Up

As a woman and mom, it’s hard enough to hear the term geriatric pregnancy when you are pregnant with your second at age 37, but Geriatric Millennial? Now, I really feel attacked.

Millennials were born between 1981 and 1996, so Geriatric Millennials are thought to be those on the early end of that. As a 1983 girl, I feel compelled to defend our group and empower my fellow geriatrics because we are the subset of Millennials who built a vital bridge between generations and experienced drastically different worlds.

1.??? We will actually listen to a voicemail (and possibly leave one, too) – While the Gen Zers pick their chins off the floor, I’ll start by saying Geriatric Millennials might favor texting, but we are also comfortable having an actual phone conversation. Whether that’s with family and friends or to make reservations at the Italian restaurant down the street, we are good with having a conversation on the phone that’s not just via voice note.

?2.??? We know a world without social media (but also remember MySpace) – There was a time when kids only had access to their friends at school, on playdates, or during organized activities. Conversations didn’t carry on via technology through the bus ride home, while doing homework, during dinner with family, and late into the night. We lived for the sound of dial-up internet and obsessed over having the perfect AIM name. But don’t underestimate us on TikTok, despite what others might say.

?3.??? We lived for Friday night TV (TGIF) – TGIF was the prime-time television block on Friday nights. Classic sitcoms filled these timeslots, and families gathered around together to watch. And if you were a rogue Geriatric Millennial, Blockbuster was your Friday-night destination instead of the standard Saturday-night stop.

?4.??? We stand by the Oregon Trail’s greatness (one could even say “iconic”) – Talk about actual life lessons. Traveling along the Oregon Trail taught us the importance of our decisions regarding life’s realities. Preparation was key when it came to deciding when to move and what to bring. And it all determined the likelihood of success or epic failure. And if no one in your wagon got dysentery along the route, you nailed it.

?5.??? We believe beepers were the OG texting (upside down or right side up) – 143 meant I love you. 823 meant thinking of you. 911 was self-explanatory. Turn the pager upside down and 07734 meant hello, while 04*04*04 meant happy holidays. Talk about putting in the effort. No wonder we are equipped to excel in multiple types of communication. We essentially rebranded Morse Code.

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I do not doubt that Geriatric Millennials are getting older, but that doesn’t mean we are old. We might be called cheugy (and then need to Google the term when someone classifies us as that), but we are the bridge. With Geriatric Millennials being skilled in personal and digital communication, we are the bridge between Boomers and Generation Z, especially in the workplace.

So, allow us to bridge the gap and give us grace when we do – even if we lead off our explanation with a Millennial Pause.