Ramblings from a Millennial Parent Today...

I’ve debated back and forth lately whether to write on this particular topic for my blog or more about the RV Journey these past 3 years …. but I’ve decided to save the RV Journey post for later since Paulette is still in the process of people visiting her and considering making her their own. And then this past week brought up a lot of Energy and Emotions in multiple ways with more events happening that made me feeling even more compelled to write some thoughts out on what has been stirring in me lately, especially with my birthday this past month, which also often stirs up every year some reflection energy on multiple levels. Therefore, I decided to use this platform to express some feelings – that’s the intention of a blog anyways – and maybe some of you will relate to some of this. If so, feel free to respond or reach out to me after reading it. We’re not alone on this journey and that’s another reason I share these words, so here we go…

There’s a lot going on all around us right now… except, sadly and oddly, at the same time it feels like we get completely numbed out to it and it almost doesn’t even feel like “a lot” because I honestly believe in my heart of hearts that we have become so used to information-overload and news coming at us 24/7 that our brains have literally become accustomed to adapting to it and tuning it out because it’s the only way we can survive all of it and remain sane. We so quickly go on with our lives because we have to and then a week later another major news story will hit us with the next shock. Never-ending cycle, which yes we have always had since the beginning of time...but yet not in the same way we have it today.

I was born in 1981 – technically a Millennial, but because I was 1981, I identify more as a Gen Xer and my childhood was more of that. But for anyone born in either of those eras, this message is for you ….. If you are an EMOTIONALLY BURNT OUT PARENT AT THIS MOMENT – YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!! And this is a literal VIRTUAL HUG from me to you! I just watched a video this morning from another Millennial Dad also sharing his frustration with all of the technological advancements and systems we need to learn as parents in this never-ending world of advancement and change we’ve experienced that only continues to get faster and faster. It has never accelerated at a rate this fast in such shorts amount of time like it does now. As parents who are doing their best to keep up with it all and be of support to our kiddos while trying to remain sane and balanced, many of us are hanging on by a literal thread!

And the bigger issue that is heavy on my heart is the impact of literal trauma we are exposed to on a regular basis. In the last 8 weeks alone we’ve had 2 major catastrophic losses of children we’ve sadly been witness to – both the Camp Mystic Flood in Texas and now the recent shooting here in my home-state of Minnesota at Annunciation School & Church. My heart aches for everyone impacted and it has invoked many different emotions from it, but at the same time I also am emotionally exhausted of the never-ending cycle of “thoughts & prayers” over and over and over again.

So between the many unfortunate large-scale losses we have been witness to, the far too many school shootings, the political division that only grows, AI evolution that isn’t going away, the never-ending speeding up of the world and stimulation overload all around us, let’s just say - IT’S A LOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Being a parent is an absolute blessing and I love this Calling more than anything but also at the same time, being a parent in this day and age is literally an emotional shit-storm rollercoaster! And yes you can feel BOTH at the SAME time!

We also grew up in a time where we were told the future is only becoming brighter and brighter and better and better with time and we are the “oh so lucky ones,” often hearing the good old “when we were your age…” But here’s the thing – there’s challenges with each generation, they’re just very different challenges. The decades are now changing so quickly that the division of empathy is growing wider and the ability to connect and relate is diminishing with each passing year, causing even more isolation and less relating.

I don’t have any easy answers or solutions – this is a complex multi-layered truth we live in today, especially as parents. All I can say is to every parent out there right now – you’re not alone if you’re feeling like your head is spinning non-stop and you’re constantly feeling like you’re just trying to catch your breath to keep up with it all, I’m with ya! And I only have ONE child. I don’t know how people do it today with more than 1 and I especially don’t know how people do this without a support system – especially having extended family in driving distance for support. If that is your situation – hats off to you! I cannot imagine. I count my blessings every day that I have the multiple support systems I have to raise my son. It truly does take a village.

I try my best to be mindful of Brene Brown’s wisdom on Foreboding Joy…. Especially in these times when there is so much heaviness around us. She has shared in her research how we as humans often try to beat Joy to the punch because of this very reason – we are bombarded with reminders 24/7 of all the bad things that “could happen” and “could go wrong…” That energy is unfortunately spent too much on the worrying and anticipating of the shoe to drop that we completely miss out on the very moment of Joy that we are blessed to experience.

There is a never-ending dance between the two worlds of Joy and Pain in this lifetime...it’s the very thing that makes us human. I wish there was a simple solution to being able to be present in that Joy and Grace more frequently, but I have yet to discover that secret other than simply being present and aware the best we can be. And in the end, I always come back to the Energy of Grace… and try my best to give others Grace, but also even more importantly, GIVE OURSELVES SOME GRACE!

Yes we are Blessed to have many luxuries in life that people have worked hard to give us, but also please be mindful that at the same time, we are also living in very complex and layered times with a lot thrown at us day after day after day. Your feelings are VALID. Please remember that. Especially as we embark on this new school year.

One day at a time friends, one day at a time.

Continue to Love well, Live well & keep surrendering to the zest of life ... ;)

~ Jen