I'm tired of trying to relate to people three decades younger

Judycat said:
Hello, I'm new here. I am down to socializing with my sons and their families. Grandkids are nice but the adults look at me like I have two heads.:confused: Anyway, I am only 66. The great grandparents in my sons' wives' families are my age. They are also treated like the ancients. What's with that? Was wondering if that happens to anyone else here. I keep hearing that 60 is the new 40. Doesn't seem to be the case where I live. Maybe it's just a rural thing.

Been reading some of the posts. Seems like the people here are sweet. I can do with some of that.:)
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We're mostly just folks growing older here together. Welcome aboard.
 

Treeguy, I can't in good conscience put altered facial pictures of myself on Snapchat. Normal looking pictures of me are bad enough. My adult sons enjoy sending out Snapchat distorted pics that are so grotesque they are the stuff of nightmares. They think this is hilarious. Me not so much. Haha, no. Little kids with rabbit ears and whiskers are ok though.
Thanks drifter, it's nice to feel welcome.
 
The DIL's Great grandparents are your age? I am struggling to do the math here. (Hang on j guess it makes sense, but here it's not uncommon for folks to wait to have kids til in their 30's; even a few generations ago).. I am probably a few years younger than your son and my mom is a few yrs younger than you. Treating you like you're ancient? My grandparents are in their 90's, my grandpa is 95 and I am very close with him.

My guess is, if they are treating you like you're so old, that they may be immature. Which makes sense.... When I was say 16, 20, or even 24 yrs old I didn't have the appreciation for my grandparents that I do now.

I also wonder if they just have not interacted much with people older than them outside of their own immediate family. I guess when I started working, in an office with people of pretty much all pre-retirement ages, I got pretty used to working with people regardless of age and treating them as equals. How old are their wives? If they are say early 20's and haven't worked outside the home much, then maybe that's their thing.

Also, how are they treating you as ancient? Depending on their behaviors in this regard it could even be well-intentioned, "good" kind of treating you ancient, like a respect thing, that they feel they need to take care of and wait on their elders? I mean something similar to "chivalry" or the practice of holding doors, that men do that is supposed to be polite that some women now do not like, could it be something like that OP? Also some young people (I work with a girl in her mid-20s) they are just glued to their phones I think don't realize it's rude to play games on phone or be glued to facebook when having conversation.

I dunno what to tell ya for sure but welcome to this forum it is a great place, I am always amazed at the wealth of knowledge and in depth thoughtful responses I get from folks here.
 

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Judycat said:
Treeguy, I can't in good conscience put altered facial pictures of myself on Snapchat. Normal looking pictures of me are bad enough. My adult sons enjoy sending out Snapchat distorted pics that are so grotesque they are the stuff of nightmares. They think this is hilarious. Me not so much. Haha, no. Little kids with rabbit ears and whiskers are ok though.
Thanks drifter, it's nice to feel welcome.
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OK. A misunderstanding, then. You know how to post those altered pics, you simply choose not to. Cool.
 
That's OK treeguy. :giggle:

Wild1, my sons' in-laws married in their teens, both sets. I think it's a little bit of immaturity, the wanting everything now stuff. Getting the newest thing to show off, etc. I don't think there's anything to be done at this point but wait, maybe not make them my sole means of social interaction. They will eventually be the old people, haha.

Peramangkelder, you are right there are many variables that make for a less than ideal family social situation. I go when I am invited...grandma is expected to be at grand kids birthdays, baby showers, gender-reveal (I know right) parties and maybe holidays. Otherwise butt out! I keep my opinions to myself like a good soldier, and smile a lot. 😖😬
Many thanks for your interest.
 
Welcome to the forums Judycat you will love it here all the posters are all very nice people. As far as technology , if it wasn't for my oldest Grandson when he was 6yrs old teaching me how to use the computer I wouldn't know how to do anything. By the way he is 23yrs old now and still teaching me things !LOL
 
Judycat said:
Hello, I'm new here. I am down to socializing with my sons and their families. Grandkids are nice but the adults look at me like I have two heads.:confused: Anyway, I am only 66. The great grandparents in my sons' wives' families are my age. They are also treated like the ancients. What's with that? Was wondering if that happens to anyone else here. I keep hearing that 60 is the new 40. Doesn't seem to be the case where I live. Maybe it's just a rural thing.

Been reading some of the posts. Seems like the people here are sweet. I can do with some of that.:)
Click to expand...
I know what you mean, I have noticed some of my friends retired and just slowed down. Now to me they look older because they act older. I like to relax like the next person but if I do it to often then I feel older than I should. I guess it’s all how you come across to others. You are correct I think the younger generation think we are losing steam mind and body. Of course we know that’s far from the truth.
 
Judycat said:
Hello, I'm new here. I am down to socializing with my sons and their families. Grandkids are nice but the adults look at me like I have two heads.:confused: Anyway, I am only 66. The great grandparents in my sons' wives' families are my age. They are also treated like the ancients. What's with that? Was wondering if that happens to anyone else here. I keep hearing that 60 is the new 40. Doesn't seem to be the case where I live. Maybe it's just a rural thing.

Been reading some of the posts. Seems like the people here are sweet. I can do with some of that.:)
Click to expand...
I too find this here from most. I do not like it at all.
I feel the system shows a lack of respect for grand parents
The social workers as in the training from college teachings. It seems they want control from the old fashion way of parents of adults are concerned with shipping folks out to high risers and there is more grand parenting Sunday dinners. Unless your bank account is full for them.
 
Autumn72 said:
I too find this here from most. I do not like it at all.
I feel the system shows a lack of respect for grand parents
The social workers as in the training from college teachings. It seems they want control from the old fashion way of parents of adults are concerned with shipping folks out to high risers and there is more grand parenting Sunday dinners. Unless your bank account is full for them.
Click to expand...
I love it when young medical personnel walk in and automatically speak to me in a loud voice? What a treasure, they just assume I am hard of hearing. I get to tell them, sheesh, lower your voice, I'm not deaf. Haha.
 
Why do people young enough to be your grandchildren assume everyone who is 60+ is in their 'dotage' or 'away with the fairies'
Look at the (for want of a better word) Leaders and Politicians of our countries....they are ALL old and grey
Yet we all assume (never assume anything) they know what they are talking about
 
peramangkelder said:
Why do people young enough to be your grandchildren assume everyone who is 60+ is in their 'dotage' or 'away with the fairies'
Look at the (for want of a better word) Leaders and Politicians of our countries....they are ALL old and grey
Yet we all assume (never assume anything) they know what they are talking about
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That's why. You answered your own question.
 
I had my daughter at the of 32.. I shared with my doctor I was a bit concerned of how old I would be when my daughter became an adult. She told me, my daughter will keep me young.. SHE NEVER LIED. My daughter is 27 yrs old and we get along great..we have the most deep, interesting conversations. We even like the same style, fashion. She is pretty mature for her age.

WELCOME TO THE FORUM @Judycat !!!!!!!!
 
Yes, we do think that with age comes wisdom. I keep disappointing people in that respect. If people think you're in your dotage they make fewer demands of you. I'm still waiting for that to happen.
 
Don't know anything about that Snapshot but I can tell you that most of the stuff on Facebook is pretty stupid. But not, if you love looking at photos of dogs & cats each & every day of your life. LOL
 
Welcome! My grands think I am behind the times also. Its okay with me. They don't understand why I like a credit card over a debit card. I do fine in my little world and they can take it or leave it.
 
Wow. Interesting. My husband and I have a couple dozen friends in their 30s & 40s, none of whom treat us like we're ancient.

It probably helps that we don't moan about no-goodnik Millennials, wax poetic about the good old days, recount our various aches and pains, or yell at their kids to get not touch things or get off our lawn.
 
First, welcome from snow covered NOCO (aka northern Colorado).

Where we live there are a number of Seniors, many of them older than wife and I. We are 70/me, just turned 72/wife. Many of the Seniors here have lived here for upteen years and, due to so many Millennials moving in, they have told us "they have ruined our loving-family oriented city".

Many of the young folks that live here, have never heard of the music we listen to, as in Motown, Classic Rock, Oldies and mid-80's thru 2000 Country music. And, due to them being older than wife and I, there are Seniors that don't like any of that music.

Millennials can be shocked when I tell them I drove a forklift that used gas, filled out a UPS & Fed X Book for shipping, done inventory on 3 x 5 cards and had an 8-Track Player. I will also tell them that I was around when there were payphones everywhere. I end up telling them that I made my first Westpac Cruise to Nam in late 1968. Many don't even know about the Vietnam Conflict. They can be curious when I tell them I was in the Navy, but never got a tattoo. "Why not" they will ask.

So, yes, wife and I do have a difficult time talking to today young adults.
 
There are two sides to every coin - I'm tired of trying to relate to people three decades older - I tire of the "we're the holders of the ancient wisdom, we're the closest chance you'll have to be in the presence of wizards. You know nothing Mr. Sixty-year-old." (Spoken in Ygritte's voice - see Game of Thrones - or not.)

Trying to push buttons - it's good to get you old folks blood pumping. 🤪

Simmer down kids - I'm just joking around to lighten the mood.
 
Welcome, my solution to relating to the younger generation is just to love them and don’t worry about relating to them, love will conquer the generation gap.
 
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