Snowflakes

[Davey Do]

Three snows already this season. I needed a snowflake character.

Snowflake as a slang term involves the derogatory usage of the word snowflake to refer to a person... perceived by others to have an inflated sense of uniqueness or an unwarranted sense of entitlement, or to be over-emotional, easily offended, and unable to deal with opposing opinions. Wikipedia

Hence, the Snowflake Song cartoon.

Not directed at anyone in particular.

Just having fun with a concept.

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[Davey Do]

Davey, you little drama queen.

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[amzyRN]

Do you think it's a generational thing? Helicopter parents not allowing their kids to develop a thick skin? Lowering the bar for people because their parents complained so they could get a B instead of a C? Trophies for participation?

People need to experience failure, rejection, criticism, and rise to the occasion. These kinds of skills are not taught anymore and that is unfortunate because pain, fear, and hard work are part of life.

People don't have to put up with bullying and harassment, but people do need to be able to accept criticism, work hard and expand. It's important to know the difference between bullying and the lack of a "safe space" as someone put it.

[Julius Seizure]

Snowflake as a slang term involves the derogatory usage of the word snowflake to refer to a person... perceived by others to have an inflated sense of uniqueness or an unwarranted sense of entitlement, or to be over-emotional, easily offended, and unable to deal with opposing opinions. Wikipedia

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I'm sorry to tell you, Davey, but the term "snowflake" has lost all of its useful meaning ever since it was hijacked to be used as a weapon by people who disagree with each other. Ironic, right?

I wonder: Do we know of any Snowflakes who matured and seasoned and eventually became COBs?

Were we ever Snowflakes?

Did we mature and season like Lucy's January snowflakes?

As far as nursing goes, yes, I think that with the right support, most snowflakes will grow up to be very successful....snowballs? Snow men and women? What comes after January snowflakes? Mud, I guess.

[Amethya]

Do you think it's a generational thing? Helicopter parents not allowing their kids to develop a thick skin? Lowering the bar for people because their parents complained so they could get a B instead of a C? Trophies for participation?

People need to experience failure, rejection, criticism, and rise to the occasion. These kinds of skills are not taught anymore and that is unfortunate because pain, fear, and hard work are part of life.

People don't have to put up with bullying and harassment, but people do need to be able to accept criticism, work hard and expand. It's important to know the difference between bullying and the lack of a "safe space" as someone put it.

If you ask us at the SN forums, you will get a lot of reasons why.

I noticed, as someone who worked at a school for the last 3 year and because I am also a Millennial (or am I not? I was born in 1991), but basically, I noticed that for us is that we have to be perfect parents because everything is on social media lately. And I'm not just talking about us in general posting selfies with our kids or showing off something our kid did, I mean more of the negative part of it that you have other people getting on you for something because it's not perfect parenting.

Oh, I let my 10 year old use SnapChat. "Your a bad parent! How can you do this? My child Vanille does not have ANY social media and plays piano. She does her homework every day and blah blah blah."

Or I let my kids walk around the store, close to me, but wander. "Why are you doing that? Don't you know there's predators around?"

But let's get real, NO child is perfect as there's no perfect parents and lots of these comments are not real either, because most of it is lies or the parents don't know better and think their perfect angels are perfect and don't see the true self of the child, but the pressure of familiar faces and unfamiliar faces that whatever we do,we feel if we don't do it right, we are horrible parents and we can get flamed online.

And you might think, why not put down the phone and ignore them? You can, but if things get out of hand, these things can get to higher ups and things can look bleek out in the real world instead of just online.

That's why you have parents getting iffied about things like grades and other things because of pressure of others and because as well, they refuse to see the truth of how things really are.

And I think it might be a generational thing. I was born in 1991, my primary school years were not good, as well secondary. I don't remember parents getting up teacher's butts, especially my parents, so I'm not sure what changed.

[Davey Do]

Your post was one good read, amzy.

Do you think it's a generational thing?

Yes I do and here's why: I believe that I am the first of what I call the "Brat Generation". For example, my parents had to deal with the Great Depression, WWII, the Korean War, and other forms of stress and deprivation.

People need to experience failure, rejection, criticism, and rise to the occasion. These kinds of skills are not taught anymore and that is unfortunate because pain, fear, and hard work are part of life.

Two truths: We gain a higher consciousness through deprivation. We learn to deal with stress by experiencing stress.

People don't have to put up with bullying and harassment, but people do need to be able to accept criticism, work hard and expand. It's important to know the difference between bullying and the lack of a "safe space" as someone put it.

My generation, on a whole, had less deprivation and stress with which to deal and we became brats. We got what we wanted without transcending great huddles. And then we Brats begat Brats who begat Brats.

Right now, at this very moment, amzy, you are one of my most favorite people, primarily because you've reinforced my perception of reality. Another reason is because you have appeased the Adult within me who will let my Child come out to play!

[Davey Do]

I think that with the right support, most snowflakes will grow up to be very successful....snowballs? Snow men and women?

[Davey Do]

I'm not sure what changed.

Nothing has changed.

We're merely the same animal with new and different tools and toys.

Thank you for your post, Amethya. It was very thought-provoking.

[Davey Do]

Were we ever Snowflakes?

I always figured some Snowflakes have sharp points and edges. Is a shiruken a type of snowflake?

I graduated from the LPN program on a Friday and began working as a CNA in a LTC facility on the following Monday. I was told that when a position as an LPN opened up, I would move into that position.

It was a short time and I did so as a MN LPN. One night, we had a patient go bad and I did all the right things and documented accordingly. The DON said, upon reading my documentation, "Excellent!"

Because of this and other things I was feeling rather full of myself.

Some CNAs and I had regularly discussed an elderly day shift nurse who had been grandfathered in as an LPN. The CNAs told stories of lack of care and other incompetencies of this LPN and I brought the concerns to the Administrator. The Administrator encouraged me to directly bring these concerns up the nurse.

I guess I thought I was a shiruken who was really a snowflake who was eventually eaten by a COB!

[Bonstemps, EMT-P]

Yikes. Not a fan of the mindset. So passé.

[Daisy4RN]

Yikes. Not a fan of the mindset. So passé.

Uh Oh, somebody got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.

[Daisy4RN]

Amethya:

I agree that social media can put a lot of stress in parents. My kids are grown with their own kids and I see that all the time. I keep telling them that what people post is not real life, more like those Christmas letters people send out with only good things. They have started seeing that and cutting back on social media and are happier for it. You are correct, nobody is perfect, even those who are "flaming" you online. Just be yourself and don't worry about what others think, you sound like a great parent!

[Bonstemps, EMT-P]

Not at all. I think its fatigue with the boomer generation hating their own children? I think there is nothing wrong with people who express sensitivity. Snowflake is an encompassing term when it shouldn't be; people should be direct about what trait they are talking about. You can't call every person that feels sensitive about topic x a snowflake. It invalidates genuine crisis and issues.

I suppose it is used by people who don't want to actually find the root of a given issue? That is how it comes off to me when it is offhanded and blasé.

Edit: Also, it makes me sad to know there are nurse LEADERS who look at hopefuls and young nurses like this. I would never mentor anyone so negatively.