It has become something of a national pastime to roast Boomers. There’s the “OK, Boomer” eye roll, the memes about three-minute voicemails and the side-eye aimed at the relative who still drops by unannounced with a casserole. Plenty of that criticism lands, too. Etiquette experts have a long list of old-school habits that can make people born between 1946 and 1964 seem out of touch today, from glorifying burnout to handing out advice nobody asked for.
But tucked inside that list is one habit experts say the rest of us should be borrowing—not mocking. It isn’t about pinching pennies, paying off the mortgage early or clipping coupons. It’s about something far harder to come by in 2026: showing up.
Think about the last time someone you love was going through something hard. Did you send a heart emoji? Drop a “thinking of you” in the group chat? Now think about the person who actually came over—the one who sat at your kitchen table, brought dinner and stayed a little longer than planned. Chances are, you still remember that person years later.
For many Boomers, that kind of presence was simply how relationships worked. You went to the wake. You sat through the Little League game. You lingered after Sunday dinner. For younger generations raised on screens, read receipts and scheduling apps, it can feel like a lost art.
Here’s why etiquette experts and psychologists say it’s worth reviving—and how to start this week.
Related: 9 Things Boomers Do That Drive Their Adult Children Away, Psychologists Reveal
Why Showing Up in Person Is the Boomer Habit Etiquette Experts Admire Most
When Parade asked etiquette experts to name the best thing about Boomers, their answers landed in the same place: reliability and presence.
Genevieve (Jenny) Dreizen, the COO and co-founder of Fresh Starts Registry and author of Simple Scripts to Support Your People: What to Say When You Don’t Know What to Say, explained that Boomers came of age in a culture where friendships were kept alive by physically being there—dinners, drop-ins, community events and long conversations around the table.
“That kind of presence builds depth and belonging,” she told Parade, adding that group chats and likes can’t stand in for it.
Etiquette expert Elaine Swann agreed, noting that following through on what you say you’ll do is a quality people of every age still respect and deeply appreciate.
And Kristi Spencer, an etiquette expert and founder of The Polite Company, pointed to a related gift many older adults have: the ability to strike up a conversation with just about anyone. In a world where people pop in AirPods specifically to avoid talking to each other, she said, it’s refreshing to see people who are eager to connect.
There’s a reason this habit runs so deep. Psychologist Dr. Ernesto Lira de la Rosa, Ph.D., a Hope for Depression Research Foundation media advisor, noted in a separate Parade article about Boomer resilience, that because Boomers grew up without texting or social media, they had to talk in person or on the phone. That built “strong skills like listening, reading social cues and resolving disagreements in real-time,” he told Parade.
In other words, showing up isn’t just polite. It’s a muscle—and one many of us have let go slack.
Related: If You Feel Lonely Even Around People You Love, Psychologists Say To Ditch These 16 Habits
How Younger Generations Can Borrow This Habit—Without the Surprise Drop-Ins
Copying Boomers doesn’t mean ringing a friend’s doorbell unannounced. Dr. Crystal Saidi, Psy.D., a licensed psychologist with Thriveworks, has explained that Millennials tend to value privacy and time to emotionally prepare, so a casual “just stopping by” can feel like an ambush. The goal is to keep the heart of the habit and update the delivery.
Here’s how to do that:
Make it a standing plan. A monthly dinner or weekly walk removes the guesswork and turns showing up into a ritual, not a favor. Show up for the hard days, not just the happy ones. Funerals, hospital waiting rooms and moving days are where presence matters most—and where a text falls shortest. Put the phone away. Spencer’s AirPods observation cuts both ways. Being physically in the room doesn’t count if you’re mentally in your inbox. Do what you said you’d do. Swann’s point about follow-through is the quiet backbone of this habit. If you promised to come, come. Ask for stories, then listen. Clinical psychologist Dr. Elana Hoffman, Ph.D. has encouraged both generations to ask questions, invite stories and truly listen to the answers.It also helps to drop the generational scorekeeping. “Understanding the ‘why’ behind someone’s habits creates compassion,” Dr. Saidi told Parade.
Related: The #1 Unexpected Reason Why Millennials Hate Talking on the Phone, According to Psychologists
The Bottom Line
Boomers have heard plenty about what they get wrong. But when experts are asked what’s worth keeping, the answer isn’t a savings strategy or a work ethic. It’s the simple, stubborn act of being there.
Years from now, few people will remember who reacted to their post. They will remember who sat beside them. That’s a Boomer habit worth stealing—and it doesn’t cost a thing.
Adapted from Parade’s “9 ‘Old-School’ Habits Boomers Have That Can Make Them Seem Unlikable Today, Etiquette Experts Say” and “8 Things Most Boomers Experienced as Kids That Made Them More Resilient Than Other Generations, Psychologists Say,” both by Beth Ann Mayer, and “9 Social Habits Boomers Have That Younger Generations Find Confusing, According to Psychologists” by Ashley Broadwater
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Related: Grandparents Who Make the Biggest Impact on Their Grandkids Usually Do These 10 Things, Psychologists Say
Sources
Genevieve (Jenny) Dreizen is the COO and co-founder of Fresh Starts Registry, an etiquette expert and the author of Simple Scripts to Support Your People: What to Say When You Don’t Know What to Say. Elaine Swann is an etiquette expert. Kristi Spencer is an etiquette expert and the founder of The Polite Company. Dr. Ernesto Lira de la Rosa, Ph.D., is a psychologist and Hope for Depression Research Foundation media advisor. Dr. Crystal Saidi, Psy.D., is a licensed psychologist with Thriveworks in Irvine, Calif. Dr. Elana Hoffman, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist.Hence then, the article about the one boomer habit etiquette experts say younger generations should copy hint it has nothing to do with money was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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