{"id":162,"date":"2025-03-25T01:00:13","date_gmt":"2025-03-25T01:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scottferguson.com\/thoughts\/?p=162"},"modified":"2026-01-24T14:40:56","modified_gmt":"2026-01-24T19:40:56","slug":"genz-survival-guide-to-genx-parents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scottferguson.com\/thoughts\/2025\/03\/genz-survival-guide-to-genx-parents\/","title":{"rendered":"A GenZ Survival Guide to GenX Parents"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hey GenY, here’s a satirical field guide for decoding the ancient slang, pop culture obsessions, and behavioral quirks of your GenX parental unit.<\/em><\/p>\n

So You Were Raised by a Gen X-er…<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"Goonies\"<\/a>
Goonies Movie Poster<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Congrats! The original masters of sarcasm, skepticism, and snack-pack lunches parented you. GenX grew up watching MTV when it played music videos, drank from garden hoses without dying, and still thinks The Goonies<\/em><\/a> is peak cinema.<\/p>\n

Now they\u2019re parenting you\u2014GenZ, fluent in TikTok and emoji, and completely baffled by their mixtape collections and phrases like \u201ctake a chill pill.\u201d<\/p>\n

This guide will help you understand your GenX parents: what they say, what they mean, and how to navigate their glorious, analog quirks without losing your cool.<\/p>\n

\n

GenX to GenZ \u2013 Vocabulary Translator<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Because \u201cphat\u201d doesn\u2019t mean overweight, and \u201cbogus\u201d isn\u2019t about bank fraud.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
GenX Phrase<\/strong><\/th>\nWhat It Meant Then<\/strong><\/th>\nGenZ Equivalent<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
“Take a chill pill”<\/td>\nRelax, you\u2019re doing too much<\/td>\n\u201cNo cap, calm down.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
“Talk to the hand”<\/td>\nI\u2019m done listening to you<\/td>\n\u201cBlocked.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
“As if!”<\/td>\nNo way, absolutely not<\/td>\n\u201cBe so for real.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
“Whatever!”<\/td>\nDismissive disagreement<\/td>\n\u201cMid.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
“Psych!”<\/td>\nJust kidding<\/td>\n\u201cGotcha lol.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
“Don\u2019t have a cow”<\/td>\nStop overreacting<\/td>\n\u201cIt\u2019s not that deep.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
“Totally tubular”<\/td>\nThat\u2019s amazing<\/td>\n\u201cFire.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
“Wicked”<\/td>\nSuper cool<\/td>\n\u201cSlaps.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
“The bomb”<\/td>\nIncredible, top tier<\/td>\n\u201cGoated.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
“All that and a bag of chips”<\/td>\nMore than enough, over the top<\/td>\n\u201cExtra A*.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
“Bogus”<\/td>\nUnfair, lame<\/td>\n\u201cThat\u2019s an L.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
“Grody”<\/td>\nDisgusting<\/td>\n\u201cCringe.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
“Tool”<\/td>\nTry-hard, embarrassing<\/td>\n\u201cNPC.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
“Poser”<\/td>\nFake, wannabe<\/td>\n\u201cCapper.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
“Going steady”<\/td>\nDating exclusively<\/td>\n\u201cHard launch.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
“My boo”<\/td>\nRomantic partner<\/td>\n\u201cMy sneaky link.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
“Cruisin\u2019”<\/td>\nDriving around aimlessly for fun<\/td>\n\u201cVibing.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
“Word”<\/td>\nAgreed, facts<\/td>\n\u201cReal.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
“No duh!”<\/td>\nObviously<\/td>\n\u201cObvi.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
“Home skillet”<\/td>\nClose friend<\/td>\n\u201cBestie.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
“Catch you on the flip side”<\/td>\nSee you later<\/td>\n\u201cBet.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n

Quiz \u2013 Can You Speak GenX?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

How fluent are you in the language of your parental units?<\/em><\/p>\n

A five-question, self-scoring quiz that lets GenZ readers test their knowledge\u2014and laugh at the results.\u00a0 Grab a pencil, a snack pack, and maybe a cassette tape you can throw ironically. Let’s go.<\/p>\n

\n

Time to test your skills, young grasshopper.<\/em><\/p>\n

1. Your GenX mom says, \u201cHe\u2019s such a tool.\u201d What does she mean?<\/strong>
A. He fixes things
B. He\u2019s trying too hard and it\u2019s painful to watch
C. He works at Home Depot
D. He\u2019s her new favorite TikTok creator
Answer:<\/strong> B. And yes, she probably also uses \u201cdweeb.\u201d<\/p>\n

2. Your GenX dad says a movie is \u201ctotally gnarly.\u201d You should…<\/strong>
A. Say \u201cSame.\u201d
B. Look confused and concerned
C. Assume it\u2019s awesome or gross
D. Yell \u201cCowabunga!\u201d
Answer:<\/strong> D. It’s their version of \u201cbased.\u201d<\/p>\n

3. Your mom says, \u201cThat outfit is all that and a bag of chips!\u201d What now?<\/strong>
A. Run and change
B. Assume you’re snack-level stylish
C. She\u2019s hungry
D. She found your DoorDash history
Answer:<\/strong> B. Take the win.<\/p>\n

4. Your dad calls your music \u201cnoise.\u201d How do you respond?<\/strong>
A. Mute it
B. \u201cYour generation gave us Nirvana\u201d
C. Turn it up
D. Ask Alexa to explain it to him
Answer:<\/strong> B. He can\u2019t argue with Cobain.<\/p>\n

5. They reference The Breakfast Club<\/em>. You should…<\/strong>
A. Ask if it comes with pancakes
B. Tell them detention sounds traumatic
C. Watch it and act like it\u2019s deep
D. Say you prefer Euphoria<\/em>
Answer:<\/strong> C. You\u2019ll earn cool points.<\/p>\n

\n

Results:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

0\u20131 Correct:<\/strong>
You\u2019re basically a Tamagotchi. Cute, but lost.<\/p>\n

2\u20133 Correct:<\/strong>
You\u2019ve heard a few things. There\u2019s hope.<\/p>\n

4\u20135 Correct:<\/strong>
You may be Gen Z, but your soul is flannel.<\/p>\n

\n

Pop Culture Decoder \u2013 What Your GenX Parent Thinks Is Still Relevant<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Prepare to be confused, mildly entertained, and maybe forced to watch a John Hughes movie.<\/em><\/p>\n

To truly understand your GenX parent, you must accept this reality: they still believe the peak of pop culture occurred between 1983 and 1997. Everything since then is just \u201cokay, but not as good as the original.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a cheat sheet for their sacred pop culture canon:<\/p>\n

\n
MOVIES THAT SHAPED THEIR IDENTITY<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\"The<\/a>
The Breakfast Club Movie Poster<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1. The Breakfast Club<\/em><\/a><\/strong>
Plot: Five teens from different cliques get detention and become BFFs by trauma-bonding and dancing badly.
Why they love it: \u201cIt\u2019s deep.\u201d (It\u2019s mostly detention and dad issues.)
What you say: \u201cI see the Gen Z remake is coming out.\u201d Then run.<\/p>\n

2. Ferris Bueller\u2019s Day Off<\/em><\/a><\/strong>
Plot: One teen skips school and somehow paralyzes the entire city of Chicago.
Why they love it: He\u2019s a rebel. He talks to the camera. And he got away with it.
What you say: \u201cSo he\u2019s basically the OG vlogger?\u201d<\/p>\n

3. The Goonies<\/em><\/a><\/strong>
Plot: A group of unsupervised kids finds a pirate treasure map and goes full Indiana Jones.
Why they love it: Adventure, friendship, and zero helicopter parenting.
What you say: \u201cThis is like Stranger Things<\/em> without the trauma.\u201d<\/p>\n

4. Top Gun<\/em><\/a><\/strong>
Plot: Fighter jets, volleyball, and one very dramatic pair of aviators.
Why they love it: It made them believe they could be pilots (or at least own cool sunglasses).
What you say: \u201cI liked the remake better.\u201d Watch their soul leave their body.<\/p>\n

\n
TV SHOWS THAT THEY CONSIDER \u201cCLASSICS\u201d<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\"The<\/a>
The X-Files<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1. MTV (when it played music):<\/strong>
\u201cBack in my day, we had to watch<\/em> music videos on TV. On purpose.\u201d
Translation: They watched TRL<\/em> and called it a lifestyle.<\/p>\n

2. Friends:<\/strong>
They will still argue about Ross and Rachel. Don\u2019t engage. It\u2019s a trap.<\/p>\n

3. Saved by the Bell:<\/strong>
Every character was a stereotype, and they ate it up like cafeteria pizza.<\/p>\n

4. The X-Files:<\/strong>
If they say \u201cThe truth is out there,\u201d just nod and back away slowly.<\/p>\n

\n
MUSIC THEY SWEAR WAS BETTER<\/strong><\/h5>\n

1. Mixtapes:<\/strong>
Literal cassette tapes they had to record off the radio. If you messed it up, you ruined the whole vibe.
Modern equivalent: A Spotify playlist, but 400x more work and with occasional static.<\/p>\n

2. Grunge:<\/strong>
The holy trinity: Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden.
Dress code: Flannel, angst, and not caring about anything (except justice and being misunderstood).<\/p>\n

3. Hair Bands:<\/strong>
Big hair, tight pants, power ballads. You will be forced to hear Don\u2019t Stop Believin\u2019<\/em> at every family cookout.<\/p>\n

\n
TECH THEY STILL MISS<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\"Blockbuster<\/a>
Blockbuster Logo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1. Blockbuster<\/a>:<\/strong>
A Friday night pilgrimage where you\u2019d fight strangers for the last VHS copy of Speed<\/em>.<\/p>\n

2. CD Binders:<\/strong>
Massive trapper keepers filled with burned CDs labeled things like \u201cJams Vol. 6\u201d or \u201cCar Ride Mix (Summer ’99).\u201d<\/p>\n

3. Dial-Up Internet:<\/strong>
Yes, they waited<\/em> for the internet. It made robot noises. And it was normal.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Final Survival Tips \u2013 How to Coexist with Your GenX Parent (i.e., Me)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

So, dear GenY: you\u2019ve made it this far. You\u2019ve decoded the slang, survived the pop culture crash course, and (hopefully) passed the quiz with at least partial dignity. But knowing the phrases isn\u2019t enough\u2014you need to understand how to live with someone who still thinks Space Jam<\/em> (the original) was a cinematic masterpiece.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how to keep the peace with your GenX parent\u2014yes, the one writing this and lovingly roasting their own people.<\/p>\n

1. Nod and Pretend to Get the Reference<\/strong><\/p>\n

If we say, \u201cWax on, wax off<\/a>,\u201d just nod.\u00a0 Even if you don\u2019t know who \u201cBueller\u201d is, just say \u201chere.\u201d\u00a0 You don\u2019t have to get<\/em> it\u2014you just have to respect it.<\/p>\n

2. Accept That We Think We Invented Everything Cool<\/strong><\/p>\n

We brought you punk rock, grunge, rap, and sarcasm. You brought us Skibidi. Let’s call it even.<\/p>\n

3. Laugh at Our Memes (Even If They\u2019re Boomer-Adjacent)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes, we still send Minion memes. Yes, we think they\u2019re hilarious. Just fake a LOL and throw us a bone\u2014we\u2019re doing our best out here.<\/p>\n

4. Don\u2019t Underestimate Our Cultural Clout<\/strong><\/p>\n

We survived rotary phones, dial-up internet, and Y2K. GenXe grew up with MTV when it played music<\/em> and still quote The Breakfast Club<\/em> like it\u2019s scripture. We didn\u2019t have influencers\u2014we had influence<\/em>.<\/p>\n

5. We May Be Cringe\u2026 But We\u2019re the Blueprint<\/strong><\/p>\n

We were raised on sarcasm, snack packs, and Saturday morning cartoons. We may not understand your TikToks, but we did invent the mixtape\u2014and that has to count for something.<\/p>\n

\n

Parting Words from One GenX-er to GenY:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

We\u2019re not mad that you don\u2019t get our jokes. We just want you to know that we<\/em> were cool once. Like, totally tubular cool. So the next time your GenX parent calls something \u201crad,\u201d just smile and say, \u201cThanks, home skillet.\u201d It\u2019ll make their day.<\/p>\n

\n
Next:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Genz: Why Your GenX Parent Still Thinks Napster Was Revolutionary<\/a><\/p>\n

Additional Reading for More Insights into a GenXer:<\/span><\/p>\n