Treating Millennials as Capable, Competent Adults

I read with interest your editor’s column in the October 19 issue of Credit Union Times. As a retired credit union CEO I would like to comment. I am not really taking issue with your observations. I just want to expand a bit. First, I am the father of three adult daughters. Two are GenXers and one is a Gen Y millennial. All three are married with children and the hold finance and administrative positions at a major university. The millennial earned an advanced degree from UMASS.

I realize that they are a small sample but I would suggest that their experience is the norm and not the exception for their respective cohorts. This is due largely, I believe, to the fact that they were not exposed to the defective parenting and familial and social environments that created the neuroses that you describe. I am not disputing that a large segment of your generation is struggling in their self-induced despair. Life IS hard. With that said, the whole PTSD-thing is overblown and improperly applied. Serving in the military and seeing your comrade blown to bits easily serves as a source for PTSD. Getting a B- on an exam or being turned down for a job DOES NOT serve as a precursor to PTSD.