Based on my own observations, plus the observations of no more than 100, but no less than 50 other teachers who shared their opinions with me during my 14 years of teaching (yes, teachers DO talk a LOT with each other about your kid and also about you as a parent), I’ll share more accurate generalizations of each generation of parents.

Keep in mind that generations are fluid. Personalities and parenting trends don’t suddenly and drastically change if you were born in 1980 versus 1979. There are many exceptions, and generational generalizations refer to the average behavior, usually predictive by those born around the middle of each generation.

1. Boomers: A hard mix between over-involved and not at all involved in their children’s education. Remember, many Boomers raised GenX, the latchkey generation known for raising themselves. Even more Boomers raised Millennials, the generation known for entering the world with a combination of emotional fragility and entitlement. We teachers cling to our over-involved Boomer parents for support, while being unable to even get ahold of the under-involved parents. It was not easy to teach during this time period. Children seemed to believe they could get away with anything, and due to either extreme permissive or absent parenting, they did.

2. GenX: This group of parents was actually the most involved and active parents experienced by myself and all teachers I knew and still know (so up that count of years to 20 to include opinions of current teachers). Some GenX parents did truly believe their children could do no wrong, but were also open to proof and pragmatic discussions about how all children go through phases where they may experiment with rule bending or lash out emotionally, With the exception of a rare few, these parents acitively ensured homework was completed by their children, and ensured proper attendance (maybe even too much attendance, by bringing sick kids to school - but this is actually encouraged and rewarded by schools, so not sure if parents should be blamed here). GenX had good conference attendance, and while most were busy working during the day, this group was overall most responsible and responsive as parents. Frustratingly, this group also started the helicopter parenting trend, and was somewhat too involved in their children’s lives, at times interfering with natural social circle development between children.

3. Millennials: Like their Boomer parents, this generation of parents ranges from one extreme to the other, but on a different scale. Extreme over-involvement, to the point where it’s easy to wonder if some parents have an identity outside their parent role, to extreme resistance to involvement. Instead of being completely absent, this second half of Millenial parents either begrudgingly parents their children or goes to extreme lengths to blame the school system for any parental failures. This includes abusing the system in place for truly special needs children by gaining access to plans, meetings, accommodations, and more for a child who does not need the services. Between the two estrous is a population of parents who try to tell teachers how to do their jobs. Honestly, this group of parents is the worst, with the most unproductive children. Snowplow parenting is common, which creates learned helplessness in children. Millenial parents invented the “mental health day,” teaching their children it’s ok to skip school if you just don’t feel like going. This group of parents is why I (highly rated year after year) finally left teaching and why so many I know continue to leave the profession.