Family time is a big priority for Gen X.Credit: Getty Images
Don't tell the boss – but I'm a slacker.
Gen Xers – arguably born between 1961 and 1981 – are more interested in philosophising than working.
That's what researchers in the 1990s thought, with a generation of films like Clerks, Sixteen Candles, and The Breakfast Club.
But a later longitudinal study debunks this myth: Gen Xers are "highly educated, active, balanced, happy and family-oriented".
Now, a new report reveals we're also the most sentimental about family holidays.
The Australian Holiday Memories Report, commissioned by Singapore Tourism Board, shows three-in-four Gen-Xers seek out shared experiences for the family, compared with 66 per cent of Gen-Ys and 59 per cent of Baby Boomers.
Perhaps it's because we were abandoned as kids: "Oi, you two, go and play in the streets until the lights go out!"
Or because both parents are working so hard, we want to spend every single second with the kids on holidays.
To be fair, it's not just us. In all age groups, families look for a destination that "offers bonding experiences"; safety (69 per cent) is the second requirement; value comes in third at 66 per cent.
Personally, I like to treat the kids as slaves. (Oh, that's bondage, not bonding. Sorry…)
Not surprisingly, countries which are perceived as "easy and accessible" – English-speaking, with good public transport and comfortable accommodation – provide peace of mind for tired parents looking for rest and relaxation (52 per cent).
"The report has shown us that when these fundamentals are in place, families are better able to focus on what's important: spending quality time together and creating new, happy memories to be cherished for a lifetime," Sharon Lam, Area Director Oceania, Singapore Tourism Board, says.
Gen Xers Caz and Craig Makepeace, from Y Travel Blog, have taken their daughters, eight-year-old Kalyra and four-year-old Savannah, around the world.
With kids of that age, they need hassle-free holidays. "We want ease of travel, time for rest scheduled into our itinerary, and a destination that's safe, easy and cheap to get around," Caz says.
For them, Singapore ticked all the boxes: "The harmonious cultures and interesting mix of east meets west, meant the children enjoyed an exotic city and culture without being thrown too far out of their comfort zone."
Stalls at the hawker centres are graded A to D for hygiene, with dishes starting at a couple of dollars a pop.
While Sentosa Island teems with theme parks, there are also calm beaches to chill out on.
My favourite finding from the report is this: Relaxation trumps attractions, 59 per cent to 57 per cent.
"Sorry Tiger Sky Tower. I'm going to have to see you another time. Busy clutching a cocktail by the pool."
Apparently, mums (71 per cent) are more sentimental than dads (64 per cent). Except in our family: "Honey, I'm going for a massage in the day spa. Have fun at that museum with the kids!"
Gen Xers used to be called the "MTV generation". But that now stands for Most Terrific Vacationers.
As long as you remember it's supposed to be "bonding", not "bondage"…
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