Gen X Dad and His Gen Z Teens

Today we have a conversation about giving our teens a financial head start. This is about something that most of us did not learn early enough and that is how to give our kids a head start with money. Not just how to earn it, but how to think about it, manage it, and let it work for them over time.

Being "present" doesn't just mean being in the same room as your kids while they're scrolling through TikTok. It means being genuinely involved in their lives-emotionally, mentally, and physically. It's having those small, everyday conversations, showing interest in their hobbies, and even sitting down for a meal together, free of distractions.

Today, we're going to talk about something I think we can all relate to: getting our teens off their phones and into the gym—or at least getting them moving! If you’re like me, you’ve probably noticed how much screen time has taken over our kids' lives. Whether it’s social media, gaming, or just plain scrolling, it’s easy to see how much time is spent glued to a screen. But today, I want to focus on how we, as parents, can encourage our teens (and ourselves, to be honest) to develop better habits. We all know exercise is crucial for physical health, but the truth is, it’s just as important for mental health. And in this digital age, the need to get off the screen and into some physical activity has never been more urgent.

In my experience college admission preparation is best pictured as a four-legged stool. Each leg supports the others. If one leg is weak or missing, the whole thing becomes unstable. But when all four legs are solid, you're sitting on something strong!

Now, if you're a Gen X parent like me, you probably grew up with the idea that money talks were just something you avoided or left for later. I mean, the advice we often got was ‘just work hard, keep your head down, and you’ll figure it out.’ But things have changed, and today’s Gen Z teens face a whole new set of financial challenges that we didn’t have to deal with growing up. With everything from student loans to credit cards, and the rising cost of living, we can’t afford to put off these discussions anymore.

I want to talk today about education—specifically public school versus private school—and the part of the conversation that tends to get glossed over. Because when people debate education, they often focus on buildings, class sizes, rankings, and price tags… but not enough on responsibility.

You know, when your kids are little, everyone tells you it goes fast. And you nod, and you smile, and you think you understand what they mean. But what nobody really explains is how it goes fast. Not just that the years fly by—but that the role itself quietly changes underneath you.

We have reached the end of 2024 and take a couple of moments to reflect on our podcasting journey. We managed to create 38 episodes and have made some pretty cool conversations along the way.

This episode we trace the introduction of sports and energy drinks in the 80's and 90's to what that market is today for Gen Z. There are so many more options out there now.

This episode we discuss our opinions on cars. What was my experience when I got my license and started driving versus in particular my older teen who drives. Cars have definitely changed over time. What about generational attitudes towards them?

In this episode we discuss our experiences (or lack of experience) learning to play a musical instrument growing up. We also touch on how technology has opened up creative opportunities to produce music.

This episode is about pets and how we think about them. There is definitely a difference between my growing up in a rural area versus now living in an urban area. Also, there is a major change in how we think about our pets now.

In this episode we compare thoughts on going to college. The older teen is currently going through the application process so it is a good time to look at some differences between his experiences and mine. Some things are definitely different.

In this episode we talk about horror movies and how much I dislike them. Do the teens feel differently? Am I just too cowardly and weak from horror movie trauma when I was young? Listen and find out!

This episode explores our favorite fast food restaurants. We talk about options were available to us and which are our go-to restaurants in a pinch. Fast food restaurants will always hold a place in the lives of teenagers as a hangout and place to get grub. What has/had it best?

This episode is about the differences in the availability of gyms from the 80's to now. There is so much more available today and along with information and guidance from the internet do the Gen Z teens have it better?

In this episode we discuss manners and how important we feel it is to be courteous to other people. Have things actually changed or am I just old and grouchy? I know what I see but what do the teens think?

This episode looks at some of the ways that how think and take photos has changed since Gen X were teens. Those were the days well before digital cameras and the cameras in our phones. Do we think the same about photos and photography?

In this episode we talk briefly about the upcoming US Presidential Election. I compare it to the elections that happened when I was growing up and highlight what I see are some differences.

This episode explores the differences in teen influencers back in the 80's versus how the internet has exploded the world of what an influencer is and can be.