So what do you think of the "Helpless" Generation?

The news is reporting that people aged 24 and under are part of this generation where all their parents did was praise and coddle them. Now that they are entering the workforce they can't take criticism of any kind and cry at the drop of a hat.

This morning the news reported that a large number of new college graduates actually have their parents attend job fairs and hand out their resume for them!

Re: So what do you think of the "Helpless" Generation?

i think thats ridiculous, many of the people at my job r in there early to mid twenties myself included and i think we work harder and have more creativity then half the old timers here.

Re: So what do you think of the "Helpless" Generation?

I have met people like that, but I don't think it's as widespread as it sounds.

Re: So what do you think of the "Helpless" Generation?

I see this in my own family. My younger cousins are 21 and 23, they have no idea how to handle life. Maybe it was different for me, I always worked and did my share in the house. They dont know how to laundry, work, balance a check book and still live off their parents. Which Im sure a lot of people still moche off theor parents but these two are completely "helpless". I also blame my A & U, they caused it because they have never made them do something for themselves. My cousin is 21 just got a puppy and cant walk it because the "street is to long" Im not lying with that remark either. The street is to long. Please.. They have no sense of responsibilities and are fine with that. The other one is 23 moved to CA and still has his parents pay ALL his bills??? What is that. I know I had a lot more things going on in mylife when I was younger but it helped me not be dependant on anyone. They dont know how to be independant. Its sad actually.

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My girlfriend works at a university, and she tells me stories of kids who call their parents on their cell phones asking for help in completing the most basic of forms.

At my job, I have parents coming in asking about summer jobs for their kids.

On the other hand, I have another girlfriend whose son is very into sports. When they have to see a doctor she makes him fill out all the forms. She answers questions if he doesn't know the answer, but she makes him do the majority of the work. She says he "has to learn."

I agree it's out there, but I don't think it's everyone under 24.

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Re: So what do you think of the "Helpless" Generation?

Re: So what do you think of the "Helpless" Generation?

i agree that its out there, but not as much as they're making it sound.... and i totally blame it on parents who just dno't teach their kids responsibilty and show them the thigns they're going to have to do later in life.... for example, i've been doing my laundry since i was about 9 or 10 years old- and i had no problem doing it when i moved out to college like smoe of my friends did... its SOOO important not to coddle kids too much and really show them the things they'll have to do in life and have them take responsibility...

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I see a bunchof girls in my private practice who are about 21-25 and I am stunned over their ignorance and entitlement The town I live in, every kids has mercedes', or new escalades, or BMWs thattheir parents bought for them, the worst part is they just expect it, unreal I think with each generation there are changes, my generation (the 30-somethings) are no as hard working as my grandparents' generation.

Message edited 4/25/2007 9:27:23 AM.

Re: So what do you think of the "Helpless" Generation?

Well my brother, who is 23, definitely fits into the "helpless" generation. He constantly expects someone to help him or bail him out of a situation and is not nearly as independent & responsible as I was at his age. But, I don't think he was coddled growing up...so I don't know if that explains it - at least in his case.

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I'm laughing because my Dad wanted to attend job fairs with me and my sister and we both laughed at him! When I got my first college "B", my Mom wanted Dad wanted to call the Prof! I DON'T THINK SO!!!

Thankfully, we were raised to be dependent on no one - no man, no parent, no friend - just ourselves. I have to admit..I'm a little better than she is, and we're both WAY better than my 16 yr old brother.

I'm 24.

Re: So what do you think of the "Helpless" Generation?

Interesting responses!

I thought it might be a birth order thing. The first born kids are usually more independent than the youngest and it seems to be true based on the posts here, and in my family too.

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I work at a college and I definitely see this with the current college students. They are constantly calling parents from their cells to get them into classes, argue grades, complain that they aren't graduating...And there are laws that we cannot talk to parents when the student is over 18. It is a weird phenomenon...And I see it with the post-college crew as well--young 20 somethings (and late 20 somethings) that expect parents to give them a downpayment for a house, pay for the entire wedding, babysit their children...I know the enormous responsibilities of a parent, but I really hope when I have children they don't expect me to be providing them with all of that. I hope I raise self-sufficient children that will provide for themselves after college. I'm not heartless, if they need to live at home a year or two after college, fine, but no money handouts once they are adults and should be providing for themselves. I was never given that and did not expect it, and I don't know why they should.

My goal is to raise self-sufficient children.

Message edited 4/25/2007 10:29:02 AM.

Re: So what do you think of the "Helpless" Generation?

I see how this starts. I have an almost 10 year old and the parents are ridiculously involved (and this is coming from a pretty involved mother ). They don't allow them to figure out anything on their own and intervene at the drop of a hat.

Last year my daughter's teacher gave a quiz on the continents and oceans and told the kids spelling counts. My daughter, who is a good student, is a lousy speller. Well my daughter, although she placed everything correctly on the map, misspelled 9 out of 12 answers. She asked me to call the principal because all the other third grade teachers only took off half a point and didn't mark the question wrong and she explained to me all the other kids mothers were calling. I told her no way, that the teacher wasn't stupid and that she realized everything was placed correctly and that she should suck it up and ace the chapter test.

Apparently, she explained to the kids at her table that her mother said they were being babies and this was a life lesson (my words verbatim). The teacher actually e-mailed me to thank me. I think parents that are this involved are just setting kids up for failure in the future. Even at this age I encourage my daughter to approach teachers or other adults if there is something that she wants to discuss and I only try to get involved when I feel something really requires adult involvement. Just recently, I had to explain to another mother that I don't get involved in 10 year old fights, that I believe that kids need to learn to work it out.

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I have to admit, my father writeto my school about a financial aid issue, but that was the only part he was involved in, since they asked for all his financial information before I could take out loans.

I don't know if this dependancy is a new thing though. My boss said that some she interviewed for my job (9 years ago) came in with his dad!

We have recently hired a bunch of recent grads & they all bug me. Not so much that they seems helpless, but they do seem to feel somewhat entitled to not have to work their way up.

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I agree with this 10000%. and I saw this coming from 10 miles away.

there is something about "tough love" at times that just prepares you better for life.

Re: So what do you think of the "Helpless" Generation?

I totally see it...
I work with a lot of "baby boomers"...they completely coddle their kids. I listen to their phone calls all day - it's non-stop. This one woman has a Son who's 21 - she's the one getting him jobs, buying him groceries, paying his rent oh and my personal favorite...he's STILL on her auto insurance! Grow up!

My parents did their best to teach us responsibility... oddly enough...it worked 110% for me, but not my older brother...but that's another story

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Re: So what do you think of the "Helpless" Generation?

Re: So what do you think of the "Helpless" Generation?

I think since the beginning of time there have been complaints about the "younger generation". I think there are those in every generation.

While it's a problem now, their parents aren't always going to be around. Unfortunately for those that are overly dependent on parents, they're in for a rude awakening but as always they'll survive.

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Re: So what do you think of the "Helpless" Generation?

In my family...it applies.

My brother is 25 (8.5 years younger than me). He can't do anything for himself. He's kinda lazy too.

When I was 25, I was married already, owned a house, finished my Master's, worked full time (teacher) and was totally independant.

My parents don't coddle my brother- far from it. I just think he and his friends are part of a lazy generation. Not all in his age group are, but he and his friends sure are.

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I have been reading a lot of the articles on this as well and have to say - the one thing I have been seeing more and more of is the "I am great" attitude.

A member of DH's family actually sat for 2 hours and went on and on about how great his is and how great his life is. What happened to humility? Even on the LIRR all I hear is I have this and that.


ETA: Makes me think of the cell phone commerical where a kid is fishing with his dad and says that he needs a phone - the dad tells him "you need to get a job." I laugh because 1-would never have asked for something like that and 2-that's the exact response I would have gotten if I did.

Message edited 4/25/2007 10:39:17 AM.

Re: So what do you think of the "Helpless" Generation?

OMG having a recent college graduate reporting to me, I totally 100000% agree with this!

Re: So what do you think of the "Helpless" Generation?

It's sad but I have to say that I can't disagree. To me, today's younger generation (the one after mine, I am 27) seems to be a lot more dependent vs. independent and they are spolied ROTTEN. They are also a lot lazier and not as apt to leave the comfort of their parents home and take on the responsibility of living on their own at a decent age either. I was out in my own place and supporting myself by 19.