I love this question! I just turned 27 so that makes me elder gen z by most definitions (born in 1997)! My husband is 31, so that makes me feel slightly older than I am. I graduated college at 20, so I started my career (which I am still in) earlier than most and had peers who were older than me. I had our twins when I was 25, so that put me in the same “new mom” peer group as people who could be anywhere from 20-40. All that to say, sometimes I feel about 5 years older than I am.
Also, I work on a college campus, where (not to be weird, but) I get older and the age of students stays the same! That makes it really interesting to observe trends and how I do or don’t connect with them. Even though we are technically the same generation, I feel pretty different than them. Some of this is that I am Married With Kids but also I think it has to do with how old you were when iPhones entered the mainstream. My peers and I didn’t get iPhones until high school, whereas it’s much younger for today’s college students. It makes a huge difference in how they think and operate.
Ellen, this is such an interesting and nuanced answer! Out of curiosity, which trends have you connected with recently? And/or which ones have you not connected with?
Let’s see… I never got on TikTok mostly because I know I wouldn’t have the willpower to not get sucked into the vortex 😂 so that’s one big line in the sand. I’m also not on Snapchat. Generally I’m not a Very Online Person, so sometimes trends come and go before I’m even aware. I have branched out from my beloved skinny jeans and I adore a claw clip 🙌🏻 At the risk of sounding like a total grandma, it feels to me like clothing is trending toward being more “revealing”, which is not really my vibe. I also know this is subjective. (This makes me curious about the definition and value of modesty - which is a loaded word - for a generation that has grown up with an online presence? Not only in clothing but in what you share with the internet? Is gen z “super open and honest about their struggles” or are we maybe a little too reliant on the internet as a place where we process our stuff..?)
There is also so much I love about younger gen z. They are passionate and inclusive and sensitive. They are aware of the world in ways that can be a blessing and a curse. This is more than you bargained for LOL
I’m 43 (the eldest of millennials!) and I feel both perpetually way older and also like I’m 38. 38 because that was my age when COVID started and I still feel like the last four and a half years shouldn’t count. I feel older many times because my husband and many of our close friends are older (Gen X). One of my fave people to hang out with is my 70 year old neighbor (Boomer!). I don’t have an opportunity to hang out with Gen Z really, my daughter is Gen Alpha and they’re sooooo different and funny. I love an inter-generational hang and thing it’s so fun to learn from other generations’ experiences…I try to get my Gen Z fill by subscribing to a lot of Gen Z newsletters. 😊
I love that you've got a great relationship with your older neighbor — those relationships can be so meaningful. And HUGE plus one to the impact COVID has had on how old we feel.
Having worked through and been disabled by covid I totally take the last 4 years off for starters... I have more aches and pains than my parents but mentally I don't feel like a grown up 🤷🏻♀️
i used to work at a job where a lot of my coworkers were much younger than me. i remember getting one such coworker’s email and it had the numbers 97 in it, and i was like…is that the year you were born? and she goes yeah!! we once had to teach her what the thong song was. and another coworker was born in 2000 but “really wished [she] was born in ‘99!!!” i felt 100, lol. i look a lot younger than my age (36) and sometimes when people gasp or go NO!! when i say my age, it doesn’t feel like a compliment because they’re reacting that way to my actual age. anyway, in my mind im 32 i think. i always have to think about it.
Ahahaha these details are gold. The thong song! The 97 email address!!
I definitely know what you mean about that reaction not feeling like a compliment. Age comments in general are just tricky, I think? I also look younger than my age and often get in weird situations. For example, a few years ago a man stopped me on the street to ask why I wasn't in school, and I was like sir... I'm 25. That didn't feel good; it was embarrassing!
I *just* turned 30 and never thought I’d be someone who let societal norms get to her but… it’s been a surprising ride and turn of events?? Suddenly I feel like my career / living situation / hormone health needs to be figured out within the next 3-5 years and I’m stressed to say the least. I think it’s emphasized because of how deeply I desire not only those things, but so many other things as well. I’ve always been a person who desires to live a million different lives while ferociously squeezing the juice out of the one I have.
I have a 24 year-old sister and I joke that she keeps me young - I don’t usually feel old until a new word appears I don’t know the definition of, or I’m watching a music awards show + don’t know a majority of the artists. 🤣
its mee! omg this was so fun :)
I love this question! I just turned 27 so that makes me elder gen z by most definitions (born in 1997)! My husband is 31, so that makes me feel slightly older than I am. I graduated college at 20, so I started my career (which I am still in) earlier than most and had peers who were older than me. I had our twins when I was 25, so that put me in the same “new mom” peer group as people who could be anywhere from 20-40. All that to say, sometimes I feel about 5 years older than I am.
Also, I work on a college campus, where (not to be weird, but) I get older and the age of students stays the same! That makes it really interesting to observe trends and how I do or don’t connect with them. Even though we are technically the same generation, I feel pretty different than them. Some of this is that I am Married With Kids but also I think it has to do with how old you were when iPhones entered the mainstream. My peers and I didn’t get iPhones until high school, whereas it’s much younger for today’s college students. It makes a huge difference in how they think and operate.
Ellen, this is such an interesting and nuanced answer! Out of curiosity, which trends have you connected with recently? And/or which ones have you not connected with?
Let’s see… I never got on TikTok mostly because I know I wouldn’t have the willpower to not get sucked into the vortex 😂 so that’s one big line in the sand. I’m also not on Snapchat. Generally I’m not a Very Online Person, so sometimes trends come and go before I’m even aware. I have branched out from my beloved skinny jeans and I adore a claw clip 🙌🏻 At the risk of sounding like a total grandma, it feels to me like clothing is trending toward being more “revealing”, which is not really my vibe. I also know this is subjective. (This makes me curious about the definition and value of modesty - which is a loaded word - for a generation that has grown up with an online presence? Not only in clothing but in what you share with the internet? Is gen z “super open and honest about their struggles” or are we maybe a little too reliant on the internet as a place where we process our stuff..?)
There is also so much I love about younger gen z. They are passionate and inclusive and sensitive. They are aware of the world in ways that can be a blessing and a curse. This is more than you bargained for LOL
I’m 43 (the eldest of millennials!) and I feel both perpetually way older and also like I’m 38. 38 because that was my age when COVID started and I still feel like the last four and a half years shouldn’t count. I feel older many times because my husband and many of our close friends are older (Gen X). One of my fave people to hang out with is my 70 year old neighbor (Boomer!). I don’t have an opportunity to hang out with Gen Z really, my daughter is Gen Alpha and they’re sooooo different and funny. I love an inter-generational hang and thing it’s so fun to learn from other generations’ experiences…I try to get my Gen Z fill by subscribing to a lot of Gen Z newsletters. 😊
I also feel like my age stopped when Covid hit! I’m still 29!
I love that you've got a great relationship with your older neighbor — those relationships can be so meaningful. And HUGE plus one to the impact COVID has had on how old we feel.
Which Gen Z newsletters are your favorite??
I'm 38 and I feel both older and younger!
Having worked through and been disabled by covid I totally take the last 4 years off for starters... I have more aches and pains than my parents but mentally I don't feel like a grown up 🤷🏻♀️
i used to work at a job where a lot of my coworkers were much younger than me. i remember getting one such coworker’s email and it had the numbers 97 in it, and i was like…is that the year you were born? and she goes yeah!! we once had to teach her what the thong song was. and another coworker was born in 2000 but “really wished [she] was born in ‘99!!!” i felt 100, lol. i look a lot younger than my age (36) and sometimes when people gasp or go NO!! when i say my age, it doesn’t feel like a compliment because they’re reacting that way to my actual age. anyway, in my mind im 32 i think. i always have to think about it.
Ahahaha these details are gold. The thong song! The 97 email address!!
I definitely know what you mean about that reaction not feeling like a compliment. Age comments in general are just tricky, I think? I also look younger than my age and often get in weird situations. For example, a few years ago a man stopped me on the street to ask why I wasn't in school, and I was like sir... I'm 25. That didn't feel good; it was embarrassing!
That’s my girl!
She's the best!
I looooved you guys talking together like this, I felt like I was in on such a fun conversation! I’m such a fan!
That's exactly what we were going for; thanks Reda 💛
Love Ochuko’s letter and girlfriend is 1000x cooler and knows who she is so much more than me at 25. Probably also me at 35. 😂
Also, love the visual of the two of you getting together for dinner to celebrate a Platonic Love milestone! 🥹
I loveee Ochuko's work!! This was such a fun interview, really enjoyed this format! -MF
Wait Laura Marling just released a few songs right? I freaked out when you said her new album was out!
I loved this interview with Ochuko!
I *just* turned 30 and never thought I’d be someone who let societal norms get to her but… it’s been a surprising ride and turn of events?? Suddenly I feel like my career / living situation / hormone health needs to be figured out within the next 3-5 years and I’m stressed to say the least. I think it’s emphasized because of how deeply I desire not only those things, but so many other things as well. I’ve always been a person who desires to live a million different lives while ferociously squeezing the juice out of the one I have.
I have a 24 year-old sister and I joke that she keeps me young - I don’t usually feel old until a new word appears I don’t know the definition of, or I’m watching a music awards show + don’t know a majority of the artists. 🤣