Hi,

I'm Erin Mantz, a Gen X girl, and Founder and Editor of this "Gen X Girls Grow Up" blog and the 32,000 strong Gen X Girl Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GenXBlog. We celebrate the Gen X spirit and traits that set us, the smallest generation, apart. Small, but mighty!

 

I am a writer, communications professional and working mom of two sons and one Cocker Spaniel.

My work has been published in The Washington Post, Slate, Chicken Soup for the Soul Parenting, Huffington Post, Washington Parent Magazine, Care.com, Manifest Station, Hybrid Mom, Bethesda Magazine, Grown and Flown and more. I served as Editor-at-Large for Washington Parent magazine and appeared on NBC News 4 in Washington, DC. I'm also the Editor of the book Hey, Who's In My House? Stepkids Speak Out (Motivational Press 2015). 

 

I attended the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York, was born and raised in Chicago, and attended Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Flossmoor, IL.

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I loved growing up in the 80's. I don't think we should be referred to as the "Slacker Generation." I am proud to have been a latchkey kid. And I refuse to let our generation be treated like a "neglected middle child." We've heard all of this. We're doing just fine. Even if we still haven't found what we're looking for...(Thank you, Bono, for giving us the #BestU2Years).

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Erin

 

Check out my latest in Slate Culture: 

• I’m the Same Generation as the Characters in And Just Like That. Why Would I Rather Watch Euphoria? 

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Check out the latest Gen X Girls Grow Up appearances & coverage:

• Interview on the Modern Gen X Woman Podcast - March 2023

• Letter to the Editor in NBC News "THINK" newsletter - June 2021

• Interview on The Gen X Joe Show Podcast! Fun times chatting about everything '80s! Scroll down to "Episode 10 Erin Mantz"- February 2021 

• In the spotlight with skincare & SeeMe Beauty - "SeeMe Soar" May 2021

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Gen X Girls is not about:  

• Millennial-bashing (we need to, and can, learn from one another!)

• Just parenting or being moms (while that's a HUGE part of our identities - for many of us - we are are more than that.)

• Complaining without pondering how to make things better