'Boomer' grandmother sparks fierce debate over her views about millennial parenting

A 'boomer' grandmother has sparked a fierce debate across social media platforms over her critical view on millennial parenting. 

Shannon Nelson, 68, believes that packing kids bento lunch boxes and having extensive afterschool schedules is ridiculous.

In a TikTok video Nelson posted on Friday the grandmother revealed an extensive list of instructions her daughter left her to babysit her grandchildren for two-and-a-half days. 

In the video, Nelson said: 'Wondering how on earth I ever managed to raise my own three children.'

The upload divided the internet across social media platforms, with users on TikTok noting the sarcastic undertone of the video. 

One user commented: 'Maybe she remembers how she was raised and wants her kids to have a better experience.'

Another wrote: 'Boomer masterclass in passive aggression as per the usual.'

But on Instagram, the video had an entirely different reception, with some noting the absurdity of 'millennial parenting.'

'Well, haven’t you noticed they are the very first generation to be qualified to be parents? I’m hoping I live long enough to watch them get their backlash for this current “style” of parenting.'

Some users even lamented about receiving their own set of instructions for watching their grandkids: 'I get similar instructions. I’m not sure how I raised 4 children without them!'

Nelson told Today that it took her 45 minutes to get her grandkids bento boxes packed but when they came home only half of it was eaten. 

In a separate video posted on July 20, 2023, she expressed there's too many choices while scanning over her grandkids bento boxes that had leftover pizza, granola bars, vegetables, hummus and fruit. 

The video then pans to how the grandmother packed her kids lunches to reveal a sandwich and apple.

'If you're wondering why there's no water bottle it's because back then they had drinking fountains at school.'

Nelson has three adult children and seven grandchildren. She said she understands why millennial parents are frustrated by boomers, but that it differs from what she's used to. 

The grandmother said she finds herself biting her tongue a lot and feels that the next generation is growing up 'too soft'.

But Nelson did express sympathy for millennial mothers and their packed schedules in a different video posted on March 10. 

She described how her 40-year-old daughter manages to wake up at 5am to work out, rallies the kids for school, walks the dog, works an online job all day while juggling laundry and chores then gets the kids to their after-school sports - which she coaches. 

Any other plans outside of the family have to be scheduled weeks in advance which led Nelson to finish the video asking 'are our millennial daughters okay?'

Nelson told Today that she acknowledges that millennial parents are more 'thoughtful' than her generation but that she's thankful to have a good relationship with her family. 

But she warns other 'boomer' grandparents to not give advice to their kids parenting styles unless they ask.