Most of Gen X grew up as latchkey kids, as they were home alone after school and learned things the hard way. You’d think they’d pass on some of those scrappy life lessons, but that’s not true. Let’s look at fifteen things that many from this generation admit never teaching their kids. What’s something you wish you had been taught as a kid, or you wish you had taught yours?
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How to Handle Being Wrong Without Getting Defensive
Some Gen X parents regret that admitting fault wasn’t something they always made their kids practice, and if something went sideways, the parents often stepped in. They would explain it away or blame the situation, which stopped kids from learning to just own their mistakes. The kids became used to arguing or acting like it wasn’t a big deal.
How to Make Plans Without Flaking
Gen X didn’t flake unless someone was actually sick or grounded, but lots of them didn’t hold their kids to that same standard. That’s one of the biggest reasons that so many people cancel their plans with a quick text, or worse, a no-show with zero heads-up. Parents often just let it go, and this meant that the idea of being reliable mostly disappeared.
Showing Up On Time Without Reminders
Similarly, when a Gen X kid was late, they heard about it. But a lot of those same people turned into laid-back parents who gave their kids constant reminders like, “Hurry up, five minutes!” or “Shoes on, we’re already late!” They stopped expecting their kids to watch the clock. Instead, they became the clock, and their kids never developed time management.
Eating What’s Served Without Complaining
There was a time when you ate what got put in front of you, no questions asked. But somewhere along the way, Gen X parents started offering backup meals to their kids, and it became normal for kids to be more open about what they wanted. For example, if they didn’t like chicken, that was no problem. The parents would just microwave some noodles.
Standing Up For Themselves Without Making a Scene
Plenty of Gen X parents told their kids to speak up, but they never really showed them how to do it calmly. As a result, their kids will either freeze and stay quiet or flip out when something doesn’t feel fair. They never understood how to be assertive in a way that didn’t involve being too emotional.
Offering Help Without Being Asked
Whenever someone was cleaning up, you pitched in, and no one had to tell you. However, Gen X parents didn’t always expect their kids to jump in on their own with dishes in the sink or bags to carry. Most of the time, their kids just waited for directions or ignored them completely. Gen X never taught their kids that they needed to help out without being asked.
Doing Chores Without Expecting a Reward
Similarly, if Gen Xers had to scrub the bathtub, they didn’t expect five bucks, but it was a different story when they gave chores to their own kids. They often tied everything to allowance, and some parents even set up sticker charts or apps to track it all. Helping around the house became a transaction with the question “What’s in it for me?” rather than a family thing.
How to Handle Losing Gracefully
Losing sucks, and many people expected Gen X kids to shake hands and move on, even if they lost pretty badly. But as parents, this generation tiptoed around their kids’ feelings or gave everyone a medal, which meant that losing became optional. The idea was to keep things fun. However, it meant kids didn’t learn how to take a loss without sulking or blaming the ref.
How to Apologize Like You Mean It
“I said sorry, okay?” is not quite the same as taking responsibility, yet many Gen X parents didn’t break that down to their kids. They either avoided awkward apologies or allowed their kids to just give a mumbled “sorry.” There was no talk about making things right and no follow-up. Kids began thinking a quick word would erase the past, and that was the end of it.
Sitting With Boredom Without Freaking Out
Gen X knew boredom because hours of doing nothing on a Sunday was the norm for them. However, they refused to allow their kids to learn about this same mind-numbing silence, and many of them rushed to fix it. They signed their kids up for fencing, violin, and maybe coding camp too. Nobody just sat and stared at the ceiling anymore.
Sticking Around for Awkward Conversations
Growing up, Gen X couldn’t leave when things got uncomfortable, like when their weird uncle began ranting at dinner. They just stayed put. Now, though, a lot of Gen X parents avoided that awkwardness for their kids by changing topics or steering clear of these conversations entirely. As such, kids never learned to handle it or practice staying in the room when things got weird.
Dealing With Life Being Totally Unfair
“Because life’s not fair” was practically a slogan back in Gen X’s day, yet they didn’t want their kids to feel the same way. Instead of letting their kids stew in disappointment, they tried to turn fairness into a negotiation. For example, if a coach didn’t pick their kid, their parents called the coach. A lot of kids grew up believing someone would always swoop in to fix things for them.
Being a Good Guest Without Needing a Lecture First
When Gen Xers went to someone’s house, they knew not to make a mess or touch stuff without asking. But their kids weren’t always so prepared. Some Gen X parents skipped the conversation about guest manners entirely and left the host to deal with spilled juice or loud iPad games. Kids showed up without knowing how to behave in someone else’s space.
Solving Sibling Drama
Gen X often had to figure things out with their brothers or sisters, or else they’d risk both getting grounded. Unfortunately, with their kids, Gen Xers jumped in fast to separate and negotiate the drama themselves. The whole “work it out yourselves” thing went straight out the window, and the kids didn’t learn how to argue or compromise. They don’t know how to let things go.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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