I am a Gen Xer—born between 1965 and 1980—and when I look back, I see a generation shaped by freedom, responsibility, and quiet resilience. We were the in-between kids. The bridge between analog and digital, between stay-at-home moms and working moms, between pensions and retirement plans.

Growing Up Independent

If you grew up Gen X, you remember afternoons outside until the streetlights came on. No cell phones. No tracking apps. Just bikes, kites, hopscotch chalk, and the neighborhood gang.

We climbed trees, made up games, drank from the water hose, and rode bikes all over town—sometimes with a friend balanced on the handlebars. We entertained ourselves because we had to. That independence followed us into adulthood.

Even now, many of us feel restless sitting at a desk all day. We were wired to explore, to figure things out, to make our own fun.

Learning to Be Resourceful

I wore a house key around my neck by age seven. Many of us came home to empty houses, made our own snacks, and waited for siblings or parents to return.

We didn’t need fancy toys. A stick could become a sword or a magic wand. A rock could start a game. We learned creativity, self-reliance, and problem-solving early. Those skills stayed with us.

Wanting Real Work-Life Balance

As adults, many Gen Xers guard their personal time fiercely. I stopped bringing work home when my kids were little. Home was family time. Work stayed at work.

Even now, I don’t want emails at night or texts during dinner. We believe off time is sacred because we grew up valuing freedom.

Juggling Careers and Family

We were the generation caught between expectations. Many of us worked full-time while still carrying the responsibilities our mothers had at home—cooking, cleaning, laundry, childcare.

We were tired moms, busy dads, and hardworking parents trying to do it all. But we did it.

A Little Skeptical, A Lot Resilient

Some of our earliest memories included news about events like the Watergate scandal. We didn’t always understand it, but we learned early that institutions and government weren’t perfect.

We were taught to handle difficult things quietly, sometimes with humor. We learned to figure life out on our own. We trust people, but we also keep our eyes open.

Coming of Age on Our Own Terms

Now many of our parents are aging or gone. We are stepping into our later years. We were caught between disappearing pensions and emerging retirement plans, so many Gen Xers are working longer than expected.

We don’t mind hard work—we always have. But we also want time to enjoy life. To travel. To rest. To spend time with our families. To finally have a little of that childhood freedom again.

What Being Gen X Means to Me

Being Gen X means independence.
It means resilience.
It means learning to care for yourself and the people you love.

We grew up free, and we grew strong.
And now, we’re aging our way.

If you’re a fellow Gen Xer, what memories shaped you the most? I’d love to hear them for your next Peppermint Paper reflection. 💚