THE IMPORTANCE OF EMBRACING THE ORDINARY
Carol Phillips of Millennial Marketing, writes about why a nurturing parenting style is so prevalent with Boomers and GenX in What Mad Men Tells Us About Why Millennials Feel Special. I love this article because it uses Mad Men to illustrate a point, and I recognize this parenting style in my parents. This parenting style has led to some great qualities of Millennials: Believing that they have something unique and special to offer. Having a sense of hope and optimism. Believing in their dreams and having a drive for accomplishment.
The article also mentions the book Nurture Shock which shows the negatives side of raising ‘special’ kids. Difficulty in making big decisions because of fear of failure. Exaggerated peer-pressure and crowd-sourcing. Possible disillusionment and burnout.
High expectations paired with difficult experiences has led to further burnout. Is it hard to imagine a burned-out and disappointed Millennial? An Ivy-League grad who is underemployed because of cut-backs due to economy. A young woman who had plans to be a CEO by thirty but instead is a single mother struggling to pay the bills. A grad student living with mom and dad because of overwhelming student loans.
So what is the cure for a disillusioned Millennial? Realizing that you’re normal. You may not always live up to your crazy standards, but you are still unique.
Some normal things about me: I shop at Walmart. I watch the NBC Thursday night lineup. I like McDonald’s ice cream cones. I Skype with my sister. I jog with my husband. I watch (and admire) my 8-month-old baby.
One of the most liberating realizations I’ve had is that I want an ordinary life. But it’s not boring. It’s my life. And it turns out I’m still as special and unique as my parents said I was.
So-Called Millennial 
Keep on developing your voice. What you have to say is timely and relevant.
Don’t measure it by post responses, but don’t be afraid of getting the word out on this blog. It is readable and marketable.
Thanks for the feedback! More posts to come.
New York Magazine, The Kids Are Actually Sort of Alright: http://tinyurl.com/3wzosmg … Love this line, sums up the Millennial struggle with early ‘burnout’: “And so we find ourselves living among the scattered ashes and spilled red wine and broken glass from a party we watched in our pajamas, peering down the stairs at the grown-ups.”