It’s widely conceded Millennials are unique from previous generations. What caused them to be so different? Was it the times they grew up in — unprecedented prosperity, the uncertainty of terrorism, the dawning of the Internet Era? Or was it something about the way they were raised?

While environment no doubt played a role, I think it has more to do with earnestness with which their Boomer parents took their parenting responsibilities, revolutionizing what it meant to be a ‘good parent’ just as they revolutionized so many other aspects of our culture.

Millennials were raised with doting parents who were attentive to every detail of their development and education, and often brought enormous personal energy and wealth to bear on task. I don’t remember my parents taking such an interest in every aspect of my schooling, friends and overall development as I have with my own two children. Millennial kids have been closely supervised, carpooled, sports-leagued and lessoned, sometimes to the detriment of free play time. They have spent time in organized groups since they were babies. David Brooks described the phenomenon brilliantly in his book, “On Paradise Drive”: “The entire weekend economy of small town America seems to depend on prepubescent sports tournaments with boxing bout names.” (p.144). Last week, the Wall Street Journal examined the ends to which some parents go to create exceptional kids (“Under Pressure“, WSJ, Oct 4, 2008).

As a result of their large numbers and parental advocacy, classes for Millennials became smaller, teachers used more active learning styles, and new opportunities for learning outside the classroom opened up. The result of all this focused attention on their every need is a generation that, at worst, feels ‘entitled’. At best, it is a generation that is better prepared and more confident than ever before.

Millennials are skilled negotiators; they thrive in team settings. They are optimistic and trust in institutions. They can talk to adults like peers and have more worldly experience to draw on at a younger age. They effortlessly know how to use technology to organize their lives and get work done by the time they leave high school. Little wonder Millennials feel ready to take on any challenge. (What Boomer parent has not lamented they would like to come back in their next life as their own child?)

I am often asked precisely when is the definitive cutoff for a Millennial — 1978 or 1982? I believe it has less to do with the birth year, than upbringing. Gen X’ers, who grew up in the 70’s and 80’s with distracted career oriented parents, know they did not enjoy the lavish attentions of the Millennials. And therein lies the difference.