Take Time to Connect Generations
By Sandy Kraemer

We have become a nation of hurriers.
We abbreviate breakfast, rush to school or work, drive through the fast food pick-up window for lunch, catch bits on television while eating dinner, then spend the evening on the computer before beginning the daily shutdown ritual with one eye open to catch a late-night show on television. We must take time to listen and understand other generations. Communication encourages affection and appreciation. The wisdom of the old and the enthusiasm of the young must be exchanged to avoid mistakes of the past and embrace opportunities in the future.

Every day presents opportunities to connect generations. Taking the initiative is the key. Last October 7, my granddaughter called to wish me Happy Intergeneration Day. This turned into a special intergeneration time since my grandson, 2, my daughter and son-in-law lined up to also say hello. My daughter initiated and orchestrated this meaningful time. She made me more conscious of the importance of initiating calls to my children, my grand children and my mother-in-law more regularly.

We need a national campaign to combat age segregation. Through communication, celebration and education, we can build stronger families and communities. Demographic changes will force us to become more engaged in intergeneration issues. Now is the time to begin making Intergeneration Day a positive unifying experience for our loved ones, the forgotten ones, our communities and our nation.

Message from Our Co-Chairpersons

A child is a person who is going to carry on whatever you have started. He is going to sit where you are sitting and when you are gone, attend to those things which you think are important. You may adopt all the policies you please, but how they will be carried out depends on him. He will assume control of your cities, states and nations. He is going to move in and take over your churches, schools, universities, and corporations. Your books are going to be judged, accepted or condemned by him. The fate of humanity is in his hands. So it might be well to pay him some attention."  – Abraham Lincoln.

The message is eternal and applies to us today. It is, simply that we all have a responsibility to connect with each other, young and old alike. But us older folks, often forget communication is a two-way process. A good example is the parent who lectures and thinks the child is listening; while the child is thinking the parent never listens to them, so why bother. Think about how much better you feel towards the person that really listens to what you have to say. That person is probably a great friend or someone who cares about you a great deal. Listening is the greatest form of caring and respect we can give to one another. The largest study ever done of American adolescents found ìconnectednessî with parents the most powerful predictor of health and well being. (from Inheriting America, publisher:Fountain Institute, 1999). Connectedness was defined as a measure of whether a child believed that they were loved and cared for. The outcome of that study found that the caring parent who thought their child was not listening, was listening after all.

The intergenerational transfer of our values is just as important as leaving our children an inheritance. Also, and maybe more valuable, is to leave our children with the knowledge and understanding that we cared about them. So, like Abe said, we might want to start paying them some attention!

Alan & Carol Parrington,
Intergeneration Day National Co-Chairpersons

INTERGENERATION FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Phil DeVries
Jeffry P. Dunn
Charles F. Emmer
Brian H. Hall
Sandy F. Kraemer
Ronald J. Marold
Sara Honn Qualls, Ph.D.
Betty J. Shepard
Alan B. Steiner
John H. Stevens
A. Marvin Strait
Jenia Suha

Intergeneration Day Co-Chairs:
Alan J. Parrington
Carol A. Parrington, Ph.D.

e-mail Cydney Campbell, Executive Director
voice: (719) 471-3751 fax: (719) 471-3696