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Buzz Feed
18-05-2025
- General
- Buzz Feed
People Share Major Generational Shifts In Parenting Trends
Like all things, childraising trends differ from generation to generation. If you have children of your own, chances are your parenting techniques have been influenced (for better or for worse) by the way you were raised by your own parents. Here, they explain some of the major differences between modern day parents and the previous generation of parents. "A lot of boomers took note of their kids' weaknesses and put them in situations to correct them, whether that he clubs or sports or whatever. I feel as though today a kid's weakness is 'just who they are,' and what could be dealt with early and easily is turning into massive anxiety by their teenage years." —Woodit "My parents were young Boomers, both born in the very late 50s, and I was born in '83, and my biggest gripe with parents my age today is they seem to just be dragging the kids along for whatever adults-only event they want to go to. Children don't belong in breweries or wineries, and I'll die 1000x on that hill..." "...Activities were very kid-focused in the '80s and '90s. Parks were free, whole restaurant chains existed solely for family-friendly dining (Ground Round, Ponderosa, Friendly's, etc.), and I was rarely dragged to adult events."—ImperatorRomanum83 "I don't have any children of my own, but I was over at a friend's house recently who has two little ones, and he and his wife are actively involved playing, reading, and interacting with their kids, and do so every day. It made me look back at my childhood, and I don't recall either one of my parents really playing with my brother or me when we were little..." ".... Sure, we had toys, but as a little kid and as an adolescent, we were pretty much on our own to entertain ourselves or with friends in the neighborhood. I didn't learn how to read until the first grade, and don't recall my mom ever reading to us each night before bed either. I'm 40 years old now, and really, when I look back at my parents, it's almost like I don't have this giant emotional attachment to them. They were great providers. Mom worked part-time later on in my life, but was more like a maid, cook, laundry housewife, and dad worked full-time. He would at least play catch or shoot pool with my brother and me. Any emotional issues were pretty much non-existent. I still shake my dad's hand today as a hug, it's seen as 'not manly' in his eyes. Consequently, neither my brother nor I speaks much to our parents. Saying 'love you' at the end of phone calls is still very odd. I never saw my parents even so much as hold hands or show much affection towards each other ever."—quell3245 "I won't be a helicopter parent in the way my own parents were. As a child who was sheltered, my parents would always intervene, and I became way too reliant on them. It wasn't until my mid-20s that someone helped me realize what was happening, and I had to relearn how to live on my own. Sure, my parents did what they thought was best, but it backfired on me later in life. I'm still in the process of figuring out what it means to be independent and how to fight for myself." "I don't talk about my weight with my kids. My mom always called herself fat and made negative remarks about her body. She was definitely not fat, and still has an eating disorder. It definitely affected the way my sisters and I see ourselves. I do not have an eating disorder, but one of my sisters definitely does. When I brought it up to my parents, they saw nothing wrong with her behavior because that is how my mom always acted." —Thasira "My parents are silent generation. One thing I very intentionally have never done is answer 'why do I have to' with 'because I said so.' I hated this as a kid. I give my kids several reasons why, and if they can give a cogent argument otherwise, I listen and may come up with alternative solutions." —DelightfulWitches "The world of 'let kids be kids' is gone. If a child shows an interest in anything, then that is now that kid's be-all and end-all. Do you like hockey? You're on a travel team, year-round. When you're not on the soccer travel team. But, it's also possible that my (Gen X) generation's experiences that allowed us creativity and imagination were the inevitable result of neglect. 'Go outside and play! I don't want you back in this house until dinner' was NOT an uncommon thing for anyone my age to hear." —MrValdemar "I hit my kids once out of frustration. I saw her looking at me with frightened eyes, and told myself I would never use physical punishment ever again, and haven't. I don't know how my parents thought that beating was acceptable. Spanking or slapping was normal if a ruler or belt couldn't be found. I've tried to talk to them, and they just say 'it was acceptable at the time' and take no responsibility for their choices. I think that's what millennials do differently. We think and take responsibility for our choices." —forge_anvil_smith "We got so obsessed with the mistakes that boomer parents made that we're going too far in the other direction. One of my biggest issues is that millennial parents take zero accountability. There are countless studies about iPad kids and relying too much on screens, and yet you'll hear from countless parents making excuses like they're 'overwhelmed' and they help stop their kids 'disregardation.' And way too many have only one person in the room syndrome. Yes, you and your kid have every right to exist, but so does everyone else. And we can be really lacking in discipline. Previous generations might've been too hard, but we're way too soft." —AwarenessEconomy8842 "My parents forced me into their interests and never allowed me to engage with my actual interests because they were 'stupid.' They wouldn't even take me to the library to check out books except for special occasions, like one or two times a year. My mom didn't work, and we literally drove by the library several times a week." —randomly-what "I feel like many of our parents simply didn't know what they were doing. Some were genuinely trying their best, others didn't even try. They just had children because everyone had children. Now, most people give it a thought at least. And many decide against it." "I'm genX, grew up in the '70s and '80s, LOVED soccer, played it from age 8 to 18 and beyond… my mother came to one game, my father none. And this was true for all of my friends, too; the sidelines were always empty. I felt horrible when I missed one of my son's games when he was playing, and I just couldn't understand the boomer mindset. Truly the 'me' generation." —WhisperToARiot "My parents never gave me compliments. If I had great grades, nothing. If I did something kind/good/challenging, nothing. They'd only tell me what they didn't like or what I could change. So I want to do the opposite." "I read an article once where a woman said, 'I didn't help my kids if it was something they could do on their own.' It kind of stuck with me. My parents weren't perfect, but they did this, too, and I became a more prepared adult because of it. So, I do the same with my daughter. If she falls, I let her pick herself back up. I only intervene if she isn't safe or truly stuck. Otherwise, she's good at problem-solving and figuring stuff out." —Anonymous "Parents today never let their children be bored. When my daughter complained about boredom, I gave her some chores. She learned to embrace boredom, which is not entirely a bad thing." —Virginia, 79 "The media has scared today's parents to death. Even those of us who know reports of abductions are overblown feel pressured to hover over our kids because that has become the norm. When I was a kid, I wandered all over the neighborhood from an early age, and as soon as I learned to ride a bike, I wandered even farther. And I didn't have a cell phone I could use to check in. There were a couple of times when, due to a miscommunication, my parents didn't know where I was and worried about me. But they never stopped me from wandering, and all the other kids did it, too." —wjbc "For me, the biggest difference in mentality is that I'm helping my kids develop into the adults they are meant to be. I'm not here to control them so that they are like me. My kids are not copies of me. They will like different things. They will dislike different things." —HillyjoKokoMo "They had them so YOUNG too. I'm just now pregnant with my first at 38, and I can't imagine handling a small human just learning how to regulate its emotions when I was 20 and also learning how to regulate my emotions. Boomer family members warned against having kids later in life because you have less energy to keep up.... but honestly, I'd rather my kid has to deal with a mom that's occasionally dragging due to age, than a dysreflexed barely-not-a-child trying to raise them." "Both my parents worked when I was young. I was encouraged to be outside, not to be out of their hair, but to develop interpersonal relationships and skills. Even in the winter, I had to stay inside due to extreme cold or bad weather, but I'd be able to have a couple of friends over. Other than that, I was outside with friends. My parents taught me the value of hard work by example and by taking me with them. Now I see my grandchildren sitting in the house, playing those stupid games and not playing with kids their own age, developing all the skills their father and I did growing up…. I find that not just my issue, but a societal problem as well…" —Bob 68 "Our generation is better about involved parenting, especially fathers. My dad essentially was an inert, and so many other dads in his generation were the same. Dads now seem to be stepping up big time, so much so that certain culture warriors are whinging nastily about it." —throwawayfromPA1701 "We are very gentle parents because the boomers were rough and sometimes even bullies. We don't want to be the first bullies in our children's lives. As a result, we are too soft and need to find balance. I can't watch my daughter cry." —eneri008 Do you have something to add? As a parent, what is something you have decided to do the same or differently from the generation before you? Or, if you have grandkids, what is something different about the way your kids are raising kids of their own? Tell us in the comments or in this anonymous form.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Weeklong deals at Friendly's in Florence to celebrate grand reopening
FLORENCE, Mass. (WWLP) – To celebrate Friendly's reopening in Florence, the restaurant and ice cream establishment will be welcoming customers back with deals for the whole week. Chick-fil-A to open 12-15 new locations in Massachusetts, including Springfield and West Springfield Friendly's, located on 54-56 Main Street in Florence, is reopening under new ownership on Monday, with a new look and new specials for locals to enjoy. Families are encouraged to drop in throughout the week to see what deals are in store. From Monday to Friday, kids eat free with the purchase of an adult entree if you dine in. For those taking a sweet treat to go, visit on the weekend for the buy-one-get-one-free Single Scoop Cone or Dish deal on Saturday and Sunday. Friendly's in Florence will be open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Fun awaits western Mass. locals of all ages at this newly refurbished classic. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
27-03-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Iconic chain closes restaurants after Chapter 11 bankruptcy
It seems like many restaurant brands have a moment but can't evolve to remain relevant. Chains that were once very popular like Ground Round, Chi-Chis, Friendly's, Howard Johnson's, and so many others hold a place in peoples' hearts, but nostalgic fondness does not equal current success. Related: Popular Mexican dining chain files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy All of these chains are either gone or have dwindled to much smaller amounts of locations than they had in their heydays. In fact, while certain huge fast-food chains, including McDonald's, Burger King, Taco Bell, and Wendy's, seem enduring, most restaurant chains seem to have a shelf life unless they reinvent themselves. Howard Johnson's, for example, was where you stopped on a long road trip for decades. There were other options, like Denny's and the Big Boy chain, but HoJo's, as it was known, was sort of ubiquitous until it wasn't. Restaurant concepts can't really be owned. If one company has a good idea for a place to eat, that pretty much guarantees competition. Think how many chains have copied Chipotle's make line and tried to bring that concept to other types of food. It has worked in certain cases and has not diluted interest in the original brand, but history shows that over time, it's very hard for restaurant chains to stay popular and relevant. TGI Fridays was a leader in the fast-casual, sit-down space. Instead of being a family restaurant like Friendly's or Ground Round, TGI Fridays was heavily built around its bar. It's not exactly a sports bar, but it borrows heavily from that concept. That was a fairly novel idea in 1965 when the chain first opened its doors in New York. The company remains proud of its heritage. "As the original casual dining bar and grill, TGI Fridays offers authentic American food and legendary drinks, served with genuine personal service. Bringing people together to socialize and celebrate the freeing and liberating spirit of 'Friday' was the concept's founding premise, from which the brand promise 'In Here, It's Always Friday' was born," the chain shared on its website. More bankruptcy: Popular breakfast dining chain files for Chapter 11 bankruptcyHuge national car wash chain files Chapter 11 bankruptcyTroubled trucking company files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy The problem is that TGI Fridays showed that there was a demand for a family-friendly restaurant built around a bar and a good-time vibe. That paved the way for dozens, maybe hundreds, of competitors. TGI Fridays lost its way somewhere in the 2000s when its food quality slipped and rivals like Chili's, Ruby Tuesday, and even Applebees took some of its audience. After a series of reinvention plans failed (unlimited appetizers being the most notable), TGI Fridays filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Nov. The chain is expected to survive, but it has plans to close or has already closed around 130 restaurants. The court filing only impacts the chain's U.S. restaurants. "TGI Fridays Franchisor, LLC has franchised the brand to 56 franchisees in 41 countries. All of these franchise locations, both domestic and international, are independently owned and therefore not included in TGI Fridays Inc.'s Chapter 11 process. They are open and serving customers as usual," the chain shared in a press release. U.S. operations, however, are greatly impacted. The chain has arranged financing to operate the stores it's keeping open and to pay to close the ones that are not profitable. Related: Popular restaurant and bar chain files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy "The Company has secured a commitment for debtor-in-possessionfinancing to support operations while proceeding through the Chapter 11 process. It also filed motions with the Bankruptcy Court that, when approved, will allow the company to, among other things, continue its customer programs in the normal course," it shared. In most cases, the restaurants closing down are locations where the chain's lease makes profitable operations impossible. The company has not fully decided which locations will close and some closures are dependent upon court rulings. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Saturday Night Live' Highlights: Lady Gaga Pulls Double Duty in Mayhem-Themed Evening
It seems Lady Gaga had one directive for the writing staff and cast of 'Saturday Night Live' ahead of her second time pulling double duty as host and musical guest: make it weird. Or perhaps more accurately: let's give the audience a little mayhem. Though her monologue tried to highlight her acting bonafides and how she was hosting during 'SNL 50' as a performer and not strictly a singer, it was clear the theme for the evening would tie closely to her recently released seventh solo studio album, 'Mayhem.' In addition to her bringing the house down with splashy performances of 'Killah' and 'Abracadabra,' both tracks off the new album, all of the sketches featured throughout the evening had a dose of anarchy to them, often finding humor in the absurd and straight-up out-there. In the end, Gaga delivered one of the silliest entries in recent memory that placed a spotlight on both her and the cast's gift for niche sketch comedy. More from IndieWire Jenna Ortega Talks Not Knowing 'What to Expect' from Lady Gaga on 'Wednesday' 'The Last of Us' Season 2 Trailer: Promises Broken and New Paths Roamed in Epic Return As a Gaga superfan, cast member Bowen Yang seemed to get a bit of extra time to play opposite his idol, not only being featured in multiple sketches, but even getting to sing with the host for two of them. In the first, the pair play an odd-ball couple out for a date at a fine restaurant. The scene soon turns musical as Yang and Gaga start to dance, bursting into their own unique rendition of Eric Claption's 'Wonderful Tonight' that involves Gaga's character shaving off her body hair and biting Yang's nipples. Though the fake commercial is a staple of 'SNL,' each episode often featuring a new addition to the pantheon containing 'Mom Jeans' and 'Colon Blow,' it has gotten harder and harder for the variety series to keep this format fresh. However, by placing the spotlight on all the current female cast members, last night's 'Mascara Commercial' stood out as one of the best in recent memory. It not only perfectly mocks the faux-comportment involved in promoting makeup, but also creates a hilarious juxtaposition with crying women that speaks to the need for attention our society can't seem to break. As a frequenter of many a Friendly's throughout my childhood, maybe this next sketch was just for me. The east-coast chain restaurant is a throwback to the great American diner, but with its 'Birthday at Friendly's' sketch, 'SNL' contends there may be something more nefarious lurking underneath the restaurant's bright red-and-white, candy-colored theme. Not only does it make use of the cast member's wide variety of reactions — from Heidi Gardner freaking out to Yang being non-plussed when he probably should be screaming — but the sketch also reminds viewers why the 'SNL' costume and production designers are the unsung heroes of the entire operation. In a sketch that aired towards the back half of the episode, Gaga, Sarah Sherman, and Ego Nwodim are the perfect New York trio, sporting their favorite pair of red glasses and commiserating over how they accentuate their funky lifestyles. It may be incredibly specific, but everyone — particularly those who've spent time in New York City — know at least one of these kind of ladies. They always have something odd and overly fragrant cooking in their kitchen, the list of community groups they belong to is long and ranging from knitting to African drumming, and they are most certainly going to share too much without any prompting at all. Because one duet was not enough, Gaga and Yang used the last sketch of the evening to offer one more number, this time making a plea for everyone to stop using Gen-Z slang like 'slay,' 'giving,' and 'period' and just start speaking normally. As a Millennial who enjoys the occasional 'king' or 'mother,' even I couldn't help but clap for this declaration, as well as a time for when we could all just say what we actually meant. Maybe it's time I get my own pair of little red glasses… As to be expected, Gaga's musical performances were also an even unto themselves, not only offering thrilling design and movement, but also an entire use of the Studio 8H space. Check them out below. Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie The 55 Best LGBTQ Movies and TV Shows Streaming on Netflix Right Now
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lady Gaga slays on 'SNL' with musical sketches and performances from 'Mayhem'
The best 'SNL' episodes tend to bend to the sensibilities of the host, and sometimes the musical guest, drawing from their talents as fuel for the big sketch-comedy machine. It can be even more seamless when the host is also the music act, as Lady Gaga demonstrated in her first guest hosting appearance since 2013. What kept her away for so long? Gaga is a natural on the show, and in this outing, she was able to use her tremendous singing voice and dance moves in multiple sketches, be funny enough to blend in with the rest of cast, and vow not to appear in another 'Joker' movie. She performed two high-energy musical numbers from her new album 'Mayhem,' 'Abracadabra' and 'Killah.' For 'Abracadabra,' she wore a bright red bodysuit with a flappy skull attachment and ended up atop a stack of prone bodies. I will not be convinced it wasn't a low-key homage to the movie 'Conclave.' Gaga sang with Bowen Yang in two sketches, one featuring a couple in a restaurant singing an updated version of Eric Clapton's 'Wonderful Tonight' and another about why slang like 'slay' and 'bop' should no longer be appropriated. She also sang an ode to a weight-lifting mouse named Pip. In one sketch, she tried to sell the concept of a Roarin' '20s funeral with Heidi Gardner, and in a pair of commercial parodies, little red glasses for women of a certain age and L'Oreal Easy Run mascara that made crying clearly visible. She also was part of a Satanic ritual at a Friendly's restaurant triggered by a customer lying about their birthday. Sometimes 'SNL' doesn't utilize all the talent it can from a very talented host, but this time, with Gaga, the results were impressive throughout. This week's cold open focused on the reported yelling match between Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Marcello Hernández) and DOGE leader Elon Musk (Mike Myers, returning) during a White House meeting. President Trump (James Austin Johnson) tries to smooth things over between Rubio, whom he calls 'my good little Marco' before Anglicizing his name to 'Mark Ruby.' Each of the characters retreats into internal monologues, with Rubio hearing the episode-ending music from 'Curb Your Enthusiasm,' Trump realizing he doesn't have to say everything out loud and Musk making a Dr. Evil pinky gesture while wondering if taking a government job was a bad idea. 'America's doing 'bad guy' now,' Trump implored. Surprisingly, the sketch didn't feature an actual shouting match between Rubio and Musk, and the Myers impression of Elon already feels like it's overstaying its welcome in only its second appearance. Lady Gaga's monologue began with some jokes about the age of female pop stars (she's 38, but joked that artists like Chappell Roan and Charli XCX are much older). Gaga touted her acting skills, and owned winning a Razzie award for worst onscreen duo ('Joke's on them… I love winning things!' she said); she also mentioned that the man she's engaged to was set up by her mother. She concluded, 'I promise to act. And to sing. And to not do 'Joker 3!'' There are a lot of reasons why this sketch could have gone off the rails for technical or live TV reasons: for one, it features a real puppy. It has a lot of green-screen effects of people riding luggage on a highway. It even features a sequence with Lady Gaga and Hernández, who play young lovers, riding luggage backstage and through the audience. But somehow the weird sketch about a woman moving to France for culinary school and getting to the airport on rideable luggage manages to be absurd — it includes a biker gang, the Sons of Samsonite — and sweet at the same time. It's an unexpected delight. A lot of pre-filmed sketches billed as 'A Dan Bulla Short' end in sequences of shocking, cartoonish violence, and this one is no exception. But before it gets there, it tells the story of a bullied tiny mouse named Pip who goes to high school and is laughed at for wanting to compete in a weightlifting competition. Lady Gaga, as a sympathetic classmate, sings a very good song as Pip trains by using a hot dog wiener as a heavy bag and bench presses blocks of cheese. 'Give a mouse a cookie and he'll get lazy,' she sings, 'give a mouse a challenge, he'll work like crazy.' It turns out Pip can't lift a lot of weight, but he can get revenge on someone who bullied him. Kenan Thompson portrayed outspoken former NBA star and current ESPN commentator Kendrick Perkins, but it was Mikey Day as 'Lord Gaga,' the fictional husband of the host, who ruled 'Update' this week. Making puns based on Lady Gaga songs and tropes ('She married a Lord. I was simply born this way'), Lord Gaga minimized his wife's achievements and income before making implications about Colin Jost's very famous wife Scarlett Johansson. 'Can you imagine a man whose wife makes more money than he?' Lord Gaga cried, 'What a living nightmare!' Sign up for Screen Gab, a free newsletter about the TV and movies everyone's talking about from the L.A. Times. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
