10 Things Every Xennial Mom Wishes She Could Say To Millennial Moms

There's so much negative press around the millennial generation. You get called lazy, spoiled, flighty and, well, it's just not true. Please don't assume that we're setting ourselves apart just so we can pick you apart. We're honestly just trying to understand ourselves better. At the end of the day, we moms need to stick together, especially moms with as much in common as us.

I know you're tired of hearing about how your participation trophies gave you an inflated sense of self and how you all think your kids are gifted. I don't think it's fair to throw "snowflake" as an insult because, the fact is, we are all special. Celebrating individuality is a good thing and it doesn't necessarily make you narcissistic.

I actually see your generation as more concerned with raising kind kids who are comfortable in their own skin. As an Xennial mom, I'm trying to do the same by teaching my daughter that she is special and worthy of respect, but that her rights don't supersede the rights of others.

Most of the Xennials I know are just as progressive as the millennial set. According to the Pew Research Center, millennials are more likely to identify as liberal and support a progressive domestic social program. When we see you raising your kids without the gender binary and championing inclusivity, just know that we're absolutely on the same page. Most of us, anyway.

We're just like you as moms in that we're trying to figure out what motherhood looks like and means to us. We don't know more than you by virtue of being a bit older. The same trial and error you employed when you breastfed or sleep trained is how we figured out how to take care of our babies. In other words, we're not judging you because we don't know what we're doing either.

Sometimes millennial moms look askance at me when I admit I didn't get my first cell phone until college. It was a little Nokia brick, and I was just so excited that I could get a colored cover for it. But, like the rest of my generation, I've adapted pretty well. I may not use Snapchat, but please don't assume I can't figure out a Facebook event invitation. Then again, if you want to schedule a play date, you might have to spell out "WYD" or "LMK."

I feel like millennial moms really commit to their parenting styles. There are hard core attachment moms, while others swear by RIE or third-child style. Millennials are well-educated and they do their research. I am too, but like other Xennials, I'm a little cautious. After all, my mom's doctor told her to put me to sleep on my stomach as a newborn, and now we know that back to sleep is the way to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

I'm aware that things can change, so I'm reluctant to go "whole hog" on anything. I co-slept with my newborn in a bassinet, but I don't bed-share. I breastfed, but I supplemented with formula.

I love how informed, connected, and creative millennials are. As moms, I agree that millennials are raising smart, happy kids. We see you teaching your kids about bodily autonomy and consent. We know your children will never have to come "out" to you, because you've taught them that love is love. For all this and more, we salute you.

We can tell you from experience that digital isn't always better. Don't get me wrong, I'm not any less addicted to my phone than you are. But I do have an appreciation for real books and handwritten thank-you notes that I'll be passing on to my children. I'm hesitant to put a tablet in their hands. I want my kids to have the same play-based early education experiences that I did rather than push academics.

Obviously, not all millennials are confident and Xennials aren't inherently more pessimistic. However, you can't deny that there are certain traits that characterize a generation. Baby Boomers, Generation X, Xennials, and Millennials are different. Generalization is problematic, but in this case, I think it does help people to identify with others. That's particularly important when you're a mom struggling to find where you fit in.

I mean, Netflix and chill is good times, but you don't know fun until you've forded the river and died of dysentery on an Apple IIE.