Kudos to the GenXers with Kids!

I don't have children.... I jut want to acknowledge those parents (and Aunts) for their efforts in raising kids that, more than anything , are kind.

The GenXers grew up in a time where we tolerated bullies and being picked on and not wanting to go to school because of how you are treated when you arrived. I think its pretty "rad" (an 80's term meaning, pretty awesome) that we are teaching kids, that its ok to be different, its not just ok, its preferred. Why would anyone want to be normal, typical or average! I love that the GenZers and the GenAlphas understand inclusion at a granular level and want everyone to feel seen and heard and understood and most of all their boundaries respected. I have no idea, other than lived experience, how the older generations, my friends, my peers, my contemporaries were able to achieve this but much respect to them for raising their kids to value diversity, to be inclusive and to live with compassion.

I was deep into a conversation last night about the rationale of trying to see things from another persons perspective before flying off the handle and saying something you'll regret later. This seems to be indicative of some self centered allowances. Yes, I actually mean your parents have allowed you to behave in a way that only benefits you. Maybe you wear them down and they give into whatever it was that pleased you. But this new crop of exceptional parents know that will only end with many repercussions. Gone are the days of #timeouts and welcome to the days of expressing why your feel the way you feel.

Here's a great example, when I was in elementary school, I was tiny and super quiet. On the first day of elementary school,(for me, 3rd grade) a much larger specimen of a child picked me up over his head and dropped me. I had not provoked him, I hadn't even looked in his direction. I'm certain (now) that whatever was bothering him, had nothing to do with me. Decades later, my great niece (4years old) gets dropped off to me in the mornings because her Mom (a Nurse) had to be at work an hour before day care drop off. She was tiny and sweet and I just couldn't imagine anyone treating her less than kind. I wanted her to have the confidence to speak up for herself. So, as I do in most critical moments, I went into "Coach Mode" and I started hyping her up for a "Great Day at School!" We'd sing and dance, eat some breakfast and basically go over some daily affirmations that went something like "when I see someone breaking rules or not being kind, we put on our Lion Face and we say "hey! We don't play that, you are going to get in trouble!" We don't allow anyone to be mean to myself or others!" She would go home and practice this statement on her older brothers. Needless to say they don't fall out of line in her presence and I love it!

I know there are a lot of working parents out there on the front line of retail, I just want to commend you and say Keep Going!, You are doing great! I use to say you can't teach appreciation, you can only show appreciation, you can't teach gratitude you can only show gratitude. But clearly you can teach kindness and inclusion and we can teach our kids to stick up for those who can't speak for themselves. That's an amazing lesson of empowerment!

The lesson was certainly teaching assertiveness, but some other ways I’ve seen these amazing parents and caregivers teach emotional intelligence is by setting a good example, being consistent with rules and reasons why and encouraging them to be empathetic. I’ve always tried to lead with compassion, I try to see things from others perspectives and understand how my responses/actions may impact another feelings.

I don’t know how you ROCK STAR parents work a demanding job, take care of yourself and pour all of these lessons into these kids but I am so glad you did!

It warms my heart to see kindness in action, at work, at home or at school. We can all learn something from GenZ and Gen Alpha, pay attention! (Sorry, still working on my own assertive!)

Thanks for reading my essay. I'm Cheryl Warren, Retail Veteran, with over 30 years of retail industry experience, wisdom and wit with a bit of a writing hobby. Be safe, Be Kind and lead with your heart. Reminding you, that "You can't fake passion!"