10 Reasons Why The Boomer Generation Are Lousy Grandparents

Boomers are known as the “me” generation. One of the most selfish generations. They only care about one thing, themselves.

If the world doesn’t revolve around them, then it isn’t important. But Boomer’s children now have children, and they are quickly all becoming or on the way to becoming grandparents.

How is such a selfish and self-centered generation going to do as grandparents? Recently a user posed this question on Reddit: Are Boomers, in general, lousy grandparents, or is it just me? Here is what was said.

TV Raised Their Children

Some believe Boomers are bad grandparents because they didn’t raise their children. 

One Redditor commented, “TV raised us. Mom and Dad were too busy working or doing whatever.” 

Another added, “During the summer, we have literally shoved out the door and told to be back by dinner. They had no clue or care what we did, so long as the cops didn’t bring us home and the neighbors didn’t find out whatever we did.

During the school year, they didn’t care what we did so long as the grades were good, cops didn’t bring us home, and the neighbors didn’t find out whatever we did.”

“Show” Grandparents 

Boomers sure do love their Facebook to show off their grandkids.

One user said, “That’s my experience. My boomer parents are only really interested in using my kids to produce Facebook content.”

No Interest In Grandkids

Other Redditors notice that their parents are not interested in seeing or being with their grandchildren.

A user replied, “my dad doesn’t even bother to try to contact the kids. He sends me a text once or twice a month going “I hope everyone is doing fine”. I’m not surprised at all about this outcome.”

A second Redditor commented, “My mom and my husband’s parents never did anything with their grandkids. In fact, I had to tell them about birthdays and ages. They were so uninvolved. But they made damn sure I felt guilty about their uninvolvement when our kids wanted nothing to do with them as they got older.”

A third replied, “Same. I had to take my kids to visit them. Daughter was 11 and son 13 at the time. They never came to visit otherwise. Still don’t.”

They Aren’t Babysitters

A line that many Redditors parents have said to them when they had their first child, why would they give up their precious time for their grandchildren? 

A Redditor commented, “When I turned 18 my boomer mom said that I should know should I have kids that she won’t be babysitting or watching them because that would be my job.”

A third user said, “My boomer mother has watched my kids exactly once, and I heard about it for years.”

Still Working

Many boomers are still working and haven’t retired yet. Once they retire, maybe they will become more hands-on.

A commenter said, “No. I think. I think a lot of Boomers are still working, so, their jobs are still sucking all their lives away.”

Lousy Parents = Lousy Grandparents

Many users believe since their parents did a bad job raising them that, of course, they were going to be bad at being grandparents.

One Redditor said, “In my experience, boomers are just lousy.”

A second Redditor replied, “Boomers weren’t exceptionally great at being parents, so being not exceptional grandparents tracks.”

A most liked comment read, “Lol they pressured us to have grandchildren for them, and then they don’t want them.”

Entitled 

A Redditor replied, “My parents are entitled. They expect us to bring our children to them even if they live hours away. Never do they offer to drive to us, even though we have a 2-month-old.”

“Me” Generation

Many agree that the reason Boomers are such lousy grandparents is that they are from a selfish generation that only cares about themselves.

A user commented, “These are the people who refuse to take care of anyone except for themselves. Parents in the way? Stick them in a home. Kids are annoying? Act like they don’t exist”

Another replied, “My parents are not that bad, but they always want us to bring our kid to them. They live nearly an hour away. Basically, if you don’t agree to their terms, they don’t visit, just bizarre.”

Wished They Were Childfree Themselves

A Redditor replied, “To be honest, it sounds more like repressed childfree vibes by people who had kids because it was culturally expected and enforced. “

A second user said, “This was my dad. As an adult, he confessed to me he didn’t want kids, but my mom did, and then he had us, so it was all good, apparently. But he was never involved. Just worked himself sick, or shut himself away with projects, or watched TV until he fell asleep.”

Lead

One Redditor said, “Lead. Lead happened in their childhoods. They consumed so much they’ve lost all ability for empathy and understanding.”

Another added, “The lead-damaged generation on full display.”

Redditors gave their ideas and opinions as to why the Boomer generation are such lousy grandparents. But what is your experience? Are your parents bad grandparents? Or are you lucky enough to have parents who want to spend time with your children?