Generation or Gender?

The Generational Gender Gap
While growing up there are some distinct differences between my relationship with my mother and my relationship with my father. I spent a lot of time “doing” with my father but a lot of time talking with my mother.
I never wondered if my dad loved me, or if he would be there for me if I needed him. We did not have long, deep discussions of how to handle problems or anything, but what we did I will forever remember. My dad had two girls I think he had a hard time relating to us so instead of trying to have a meaningful conversation he showed us his love by giving of his time. He would cut down broomsticks and tape them together and turn them into double barrel shotguns and we played Miami Vice. Not the one that is on now…the old one! I remember spending countless hours playing baseball with him, just throwing the ball back and forth. This was a subject of conversation. He would talk forever about the how to’s of baseball and all that I would need to know in order to be a good player. I don’t think he knew how to relate to us girls.
My mom on the other hand was the opposite. She knew just what to say and when to say it. I remember countless hours with her sitting on her bed while she spoke of all the lessons that she encountered as a young girl. It was my mom that told me that I could do anything I wanted, and that it is wrong to put someone down just to lift someone else up. She was the one that I cried to when my best friend moved out of state.
As my sister and I got older the communication between my dad and us became stronger and stronger. He was more willing to share thoughts and ideas with us. He spends time encouraging me to keep going even though it is very difficult. He seems to have reached a point in his life that he did not feel as though he could not relate to girls.
The relationship with my mom also evolved into a beautiful friendship. We still talk and bounce ideas off each other, but now she is less likely to share her thoughts and opinions. Maybe it’s because she feels that she has done her job and unless we ask for her opinion she doesn’t give it.
Unfortunately, I cannot come up with the solution the question of whether there is a difference in gender communication between generations because I feel that this is pretty coming in households everywhere. Men are more uncomfortable as a general rule in sharing and communicating feelings, emotions and even sometimes just an opinion for fear of it being misunderstood. Women are more likely to talk in a personal situation while men hold their tongue. This is the same pattern we see in our homes as well.