Have you thought about what our legacy will be as parents? As a mom it’s easy to get tunnel vision, focused on the here and now. I recently pulled my head out of the proverbial sand, after having 4 boys in 8 years, and started reading up on our generation and talking to friends about the things that will define us as millennial moms.
After doing quite a bit of research and reading, I’ve concluded that being a millennial mom is awesome. Here are 12 reasons why:
1. We believe we can change the world for the better.
I’m convinced our generation is going to make a powerful, positive difference in the world. Some say that makes us pragmatic idealists. I like that, it means we believe we can make the world a better place, but we know it won’t be easy. Setting our expectations well increases our chance of hanging in for the long haul, and overcoming obstacles. I want to model tenacity and perseverance to my children so they know that when something matters you keep working at it even when it’s hard.
2. We place a high value on a good work-life balance.
In fact it’s non negotiable. You and I will put a lot of effort into creating a life that is in balance, and continuing to adjust it as necessary. This makes us more productive now and in the long term. It’s also an important way that we model to our kids that living your values is the only way to live.
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3. We don’t trust brands.
We do research, and get advice from friends. Instead of being told what to eat or where to shop, we take a proactive role and feel ownership in the decisions regarding where we spend my money. This allows us to promote efforts we care about and we’re teaching our kids about social responsibility.
4. We challenge the status quo.
We’re independent thinkers, we question the system – government, media, etc. We’re joining the conversation with other parents to take ownership of life and the world that we will as a generation will inherit and become a dominant force in.
5. We are educated.
Most of us have a college degree. I have a masters degree, and an insatiable hunger for learning. I read about a book a week. This is a value we’re passing on to our kids. My boys view learning to read as an awesomely important first milestone in their life.
6. We embrace change.
This is crucial because the world is changing exponentially. As millennials we believe we are uniquely wired to cope with this change, to embrace it and use it to our advantage. I expect to pass this ability to adjust to an ever-changing environment to my kids, once I finish learning how to cope, because I continue to be amazed at how fast things are changing now.
7. We are tech savvy.
As part of the first generation to really understand digital technology, we have the opportunity to ride the wave of disruptive technology and benefit from understanding it. We will know the most strategic web-based skills to pass on to our kids at an early age.
8. We value time and use it wisely.
Time is the one resource that everyone has the same amount of and that no one can gain more of. How we leverage our resources in order to use time strategically will be the single most defining factor of personal success. This is key to maintaining a work-life balance and finding time to impart our values to our children, which for me will involve spending time coding, camping, critiquing commercials and trying new science experiments.
My Energy Boot Camp Workbook helps you identify your own core values, and then begin to integrate them into your life in a way that helps you manage your time, activities, and commitments.
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9. We are not materialistic.
We view material goods as a means to an end, and place a lower value on things that don’t help facilitate meaningful experiences, or give us more time with friends and family. My boys have watched me declutter and simplify our belongings over the past year and have seen first hand that fewer toys and less stuff do indeed make us happier. They were sold when I told them less stuff to organize and clean meant more time for me to play with them.
10. We are team-oriented.
We use everyone’s strengths; we know that true collaboration brings exponentially more results than a group that does not value and tap the gifts of each individual. We believe this insight is powerful when applied both to marriage and to the family.
11. We are motivated by meaning.
We crave authenticity, influence, and feedback. We want to share our gifts and impact others’ lives. We need to know the affects of our actions, both positive and negative on our immediate and indirect surroundings. This can be challenging as a mom with young children, but as our kids get older they will feel all the positive effects of valuing people over stuff, and meaningful work over purely working for a paycheck.
12. As moms we are modeling a value-driven life.
Our children will see that their parents and close friends value resources such as education, time and technology but are not ruled by them, or by money. They will be able to articulate their values and make decisions about life choices that allow them to live purposefully and authentically, because we do.
Let’s live authentically in a way that aligns with our values and that embraces the premise that our generation is blessed, and poised to make a positive difference.
How does that list make you feel? What assumptions have you been making about your life that might not have to be true? What if our generation could do and be all of these things?
I believe that if we ask ourselves the right questions we will find the answers we’re looking for.
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Alicia Eichmann