Baby Boomers and Divorce: A Bumpy Road for Many?
A national poll is launched to determine how divorced boomers are holding up.
In the 1960s and '70s we burned our bras and draft cards, marched on Washington, founded Earth Day, elevated smoking pot to cult status, and vowed never to trust anyone over the age of 30.
Today, we are dancing wildly and waving our arms in the air to the lyrics of Chubby Checker's "The Twist" at "Oldies" parties, buying gifts for the grandchildren, and planning for our retirement.
Indeed, our generation—at once commended for our commitment to social change and criticized for our perceived or real self-indulgence—has matured and, now, we're going gray and developing arthritis.
We had such an impact on American pop culture that, in 1966, Time magazine broke with tradition and choose the baby boomer generation instead of an individual as its Man of the Year. But for some the "Me" generation is just beginning to pay the price, particularly when it comes to divorce.
The boomer divorce rate is triple that of our parents' generation, according to Ken Gronbach, author of "Common Census: The Counter-Intuitive Guide to Generational Marketing."
"They got married, they got divorced and half their money goes out the window," says Suze Orman, who receives many calls from divorced boomers on her show. There are so many issues to consider: financial, children, grandchildren—the overall relationship with their former spouse.
The post-divorce relationship boomers are having with their former spouses is wide and varied.
To determine if a consensus exists about how divorced boomers are holding up, BB[KC] is collaborating in a national poll with the National Association of Divorced for Women and Children.
The poll is three questions and takes but a moment to answer. And how you vote is completely anonymous!
Go here to particpate
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Click each link to to vote.
1) The most challenging part of getting a divorce for me was:
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2) What life skills would have been helpful when going through your divorce?
(for example stress management, coping skills and/or communication skills?)
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3) What is your relationship now with your former spouse?
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Thank you for participating.
The results of the poll will be published on June 15, 2009.
