15 Ways to Guarantee That the Younger Generation Will Not Want to Listen to You!

Having spent the last 22 years raising children, and most of our married life with college students and young married couples, my husband and I have made it our aim to learn how not to drive the younger generation away. We have seen older people unintentionally turn young people off.  Since we are the older ones, I believe it is our responsibility to make ourselves as approachable as possible.

If we are not aware of the things that could potentially drive young people away, we will hinder opportunities to live life with them.  The next generation is worth fighting to get to know, don't you think? 

15 Ways to Guarantee That the Younger Generation Will Not Want to Listen to You

1. When you are asked for advice, always begin your answer with the phrase "When I was your age..."  Talk constantly about when you were a kid, and tell the same stories over and over.
2. Question and criticize all the latest trends (hairstyles, clothing, Facebook, etc.). Criticize their music, and don't take the time to get to know the things they are interested in, or what they are listening to.
3. Don't take the time to  keep up on the latest technology (cell phones, texting, computers). Complain about the latest technology as if it's the down fall of the generation, (as if you didn't have anything that distracted you when you were young).
4. Relate to them like they know nothing and like they are children. 
5. Tease them, be sarcastic, and never talk to them with respect or like they are young adults.
6. Expect them to be as mature as you are and be sure to hold up  unrealistic standards, even though you didn't live up to them at their age (and still don't at times).
7. Focus on their immaturity and not on the ways they are growing.
8. Lecture and preach to them every time you have a conversation, and be sure to offer unasked for advice. 
9. Forget that they they are young and will make mistakes,  (just like you did!)
10. If they are your (grown) children starting families of their own,  become offended every time they do something different than you did, and take everything they do personally.
11. Don't give them time to adjust and learn as they enter new season's of life and are growing. 
12. Expect them to do everything right the first time. (And when they don't...be sure to tell them about it!)
13. Talk about your generation as if it did everything right, and the present generation as if it does everything wrong. Act as if the way things used to be done is always better than the way things are now.
14. Make sure the only time you talk with them is when they have done something wrong.  Don't take time to encourage them and tell them about the things they are doing well. 
15. Don't ask them how they are doing. Don't take time to listen to their thoughts. After all...they are  young...they need you to tell them what to do! What do they know?

If you are faithful to follow these 15 easy steps, I guarantee that your influence on the younger generation will be minimal, that they will avoid having conversations with you, and that they might even run when they see you coming!