Facts On Baby Boomer Grandparents

First Boomers Turning 60 - Still a Big Influence on Culture

© Maryan Pelland

Oct 4, 2006

Each day in the United States 4,000 people become first-go-round grandparents. It happened to me four times in the past year, so I’m certainly holding up my end.

Here are some other neat grandparent-generation facts to share with your little guys. Something to think about when people crack lame jokes about being old just because you’re lucky enough to be a baby boomer with grandchildren.

• In 2006, the first baby boomers turned 60. Not all of us, just the oldest of us. The rest of us can bask in our chronological fortune for a little while.
• Our generation has brought about more positive civil change than nearly any other. Think in terms of women's rights, racial equality, job opportunities, educational improvement (though that has a long way to go), and medical advances just for starters. You can't find one of those fields that wasn't heavily influenced by Baby Boomers.
• Most of us can expect to be grandparents for nearly 40 years. Amazing.
• Many of us will remain active, intellectually engaged, and enthusiastic for most of that time. That means we can give our grandchildren legacies rich with far more than annuities and stocks.
• In this century, grandparents have far more disposable income and leisure time than ever before.
• There are 80 million of us, including Dolly Parton, Sylvester Stallone (!), Harrison Ford, Bill Clinton, Whoopi Goldberg, and Stephen King.
• In the 1940s, when most of us were born, the most popular names were James and Mary. No one was named "Moon Unit," "Elijah Blue," or "Apple" to my knowledge.
• Women make up 50.8% of baby boomers. About 10% are black and 32% of Alaska's population were boomers as of the last census. I shudder to think what percent of the population in Florida or Arizona are boomers.
• In 1946, when we began, the US population was 141. and a half million. It is more than double that now. Do you wonder why you can't find a quiet place to gather your thoughts?
• Baby boomers make up the largest single segment of Internet users. A homebuilders’ organization surveyed potential buyers and found the #1 amenity boomers wanted was home office space and computer hookups. Twelve years ago, when I gingerly approached my first computer, I figured out only enough to wipe out the boot drive in about one minute. My monitor was less than 10” and I had no hard drive. Now, I sit before a double display, with dual processors, flat screens, wireless networking and mag wheels. Alright. No mag wheels. But I can program and rebuild the thing. Who’d have known?

Thanks to Senior Journal online for some of these facts. It just goes to show you how much we have to share with our grandchildren and with the world. We’re not done yet, by a long shot.

More:

Boomers International

Elder Hostel programs for two generations

Print Article

View All Articles

How to subscribe to feeds