{"id":78537,"date":"2023-06-06T11:44:09","date_gmt":"2023-06-06T16:44:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.familytreedna.com\/?p=78537"},"modified":"2026-03-13T15:12:50","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T20:12:50","slug":"intergenerational-relationships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.familytreedna.com\/es\/intergenerational-relationships\/","title":{"rendered":"Reflecting on the Importance of Intergenerational Relationships"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”153942″]by: Jeremy Balkin<\/p>\n

It seems like times are always changing. But sometimes, things stay consistent. Jeremy Balkin looks at the bigger picture of intergenerational connections and celebrates the essence of Intergenerational Day.<\/h2>\n

I woke up this morning and checked my tablet. I took a big yawn, a big stretch, and I walked over to relieve myself and freshen up a bit. I poured myself a beverage and walked over to check on my son. I could hear the rain outside hitting my home, and while it was soothing, I knew it was also going to be a detriment for me going out to work.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image media=”78538″ media_lightbox=”yes” media_width_percent=”55″ lbox_social=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”109836″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”821821″]I went to get breakfast but realized I was out of almost everything. No meat. No water. No nuts. No flowers. Also, somebody<\/em> left our home open last night, leaving it completely exposed to break-ins and inclement weather. Luckily, the dog didn\u2019t escape. She looked especially good this morning, resembling the picture on the wall more than she had in years.<\/p>\n

An Ageless Routine<\/h2>\n

The above paragraphs could describe the morning routine of someone today or that of a prehistoric person. Except for the part about the flowers. Not a lot of people eat flowers anymore. At least as far as I am aware. That part was probably a giveaway.<\/p>\n

Regardless, humanity has come a very long way since prehistory. But in some very basic ways, we haven\u2019t. The basic principles that guide our lives are often largely unchanged. We seek protection, food, and shelter; we look out for the ones we love; and we try to enjoy ourselves as much as we can. Though how we do all of these things has evolved, and we have physically, psychologically, and emotionally evolved as well, there is a through-line throughout all of history of shared experience.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image media=”78539″ media_lightbox=”yes” media_width_percent=”39″ lbox_caption=”yes” lbox_social=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”154980″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”709694″]My great grandmother used to talk to me about how, in the evenings, her family would gather around the radio for their entertainment. I remember thinking how ridiculous<\/strong> that sounded. Now, I realize I do the exact same thing with my son while driving him to school. We listen to a morning show on the radio. It includes news breaks, comedy sketches, celebrity gossip, music, and commercials. I also gather around the radio every evening, if only by \u2018gather\u2019 I mean \u2018lay in bed\u2019 and \u2018around the radio\u2019 I actually mean \u2018and listen to my podcast on my phone\u2019.<\/p>\n

Intergenerational Day<\/h2>\n

In 2009, Intergenerational Day was created. The basic idea was to decrease the increasing emotional gap between older and younger people. When researching this topic, I found a stock image of an older man fly fishing with a young boy. I started thinking that if this day had existed when I was a boy, maybe I\u2019d know how to fish now. Then I realized that my dad has never gone fly fishing. He didn\u2019t have to. He was blessed with a Long John Silver\u2019s a block away from our home.<\/p>\n

Connecting two generations separated by another generation is difficult, especially in these times of disconnection. I think of myself as a pretty social person, but all day I sit at my desk and send instant messages on my computer to other people in the same room as me. I could just turn my head slightly to the right instead. That\u2019s not a knock on technology or instant messaging, as it makes work much more efficient. It helps us connect with our customers much more quickly. However, it does come with the downside of losing personal connections.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image media=”78540″ media_lightbox=”yes” media_width_percent=”50″ lbox_caption=”yes” lbox_social=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”252908″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”633222″]Genetics is helping bridge this disconnection – this gap – between generations. I see it every day working here.<\/p>\n