Moms Talk: Are Millennials Self-Absorbed?

Is your kid over-privileged and self-absorbed? Some think so.

The sermon last weekend touched on millennials, children born between 1982 and 2000. A panel of millennials and the Rev. Marti Keller talked a bit about this generation and the book Millenials and The Pop Culture. According to the book, millennials have the following core traits:

• Special – From precious-baby movies of the mid-’80s to the media glare surrounding the high school Class of 2000, older generations have inculcated in Millennials the sense that they are, collectively, vital to the nation and to their parents’ sense of purpose.
• Sheltered – From the surge in child-safety rules and devices to the post-Columbine lockdown of public schools, to the hotel-style security of today’s college dorm room, Millennials are the focus of the most sweeping youth-protection movement in American history.
• Confident – With high levels of trust and optimism – and a newly felt connection to parents and future, Millennial teens are beginning to equate good news for themselves with good news for their country.
• Team-Oriented – From Barney and soccer to collaborative learning and a resurgence of Greek life on campus, Millennials are developing strong team instincts and tight peer bonds.
• Conventional – Taking pride in their improving behavior and quite comfortable with their parents’ values, Millennials provide a modern twist to the traditional belief that social rules and standards can make life easier.
• Pressured – Pushed to study hard, avoid personal risks, and take full advantage of the collective opportunities adults are offering them, Millennials feel a “trophy kid” pressure to excel.
• Achieving – With accountability and higher school standards having risen to the top of America’s political agenda, Millennials are on track to becoming the smartest, best-educated generation of adults in U.S. history.

You can listen to the church's discussion of the issue here. Some of them had critical things to say, including that millennials are more entitled, narcissistic and media-distracted than past generations.

Does this ring true to you? Feel free to comment below.