This Next Generation
Scares Me
Yes, I know
I am an old fart, and all old farts think younger generations are spoiled,
listen to bad music and don’t have good manners. Yes, that has been true since forever, even
writings of Greek philosophers warn of the deficiencies of the younger
generation.
I don’t
particularly like the rap music of today.
I don’t particularly like the butchering of the English language, or the
creaky voice inflection of today’s youth.
It bothers me that young people do not even know how to safely cross the
street.
I can let
all these things slide because…Hell, what else can I do about it.
But.
Today on the
beach I saw an event that really scares me about young people and how they are
being raised.
I was on the
beach and a young mother who weighed maybe 110 pounds was packing up her beach
wagon. Several chairs, two umbrellas,
two boogie boards and assorted beach paraphernalia. The wagon had tiny wheels which could only be
dragged across the sand, not rolled.
This 110-pound
lady was pulling this weighted down cart through about fifty yards of sand like
one of those power lifting champions pulling a Boing 747 on a chain. While she was dragging the beach stuff, her
at least 12-year-old son who looked to weigh about 140 pounds was walking ahead
disgusted that she was taking so long.
He carried nothing. He didn’t
help push and did not volunteer to help pull.
Her about 9-year-old daughter did carry a small beach bag, but still did
not offer to help, what-so-ever…in fact she also seemed disgusted that mom was
taking so long.
I wanted to
wring these kids necks for not offering to help their tiny mom. I wanted to ask the mother what in blazes was
wrong with her that she would not demand her children help.
Instead, I
just shook my head and ignored them.
I’m 72; not
my problem.
Yep, I see that all the time too. Amazing isn't it. It's her fault though. The mom should have laid out the ground rules long ago. I'm pretty sure it's too late now. What a shame. Can you imagine what little hellions these two are going to have? I can imagine.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day, Joe. ☺
When I encounter a child with an attitude of entitlement I always look at the parents because it usually starts there.
ReplyDeleteThere you go...it's hard though isn't it?
ReplyDeleteYou should try to deal with them in the classroom! Yeah. Not my problem any more.
ReplyDeleteWondering if maybe she's just a control freak and doesn't think her kids or spouse even would do a good enough job carrying the crap,
ReplyDeleteI will never understand why parents feel the need to raise entitled children. You can help your child without crippling them as part of mankind. We live in a sad world.
ReplyDeleteAmen!!
DeleteSad, very sad. They are in for a rude awakening when they find out the rest of the world won't do that for them.
ReplyDeleteWho the hell raised that 110-pound lady???
ReplyDeleteThat is a disheartening.
ReplyDeleteI see a lot of really great kids, though, and I have recently started becoming slightly more hopeful about the future. All we can do is hope that the next generation doesn't make the same mistakes ours did. Well, maybe we can do our best to teach them, but... yeah, there are some great kids who would help Mom move the stuff.
This happens at some situations. when we grow up our kids with lots of love ans affection, we don't allow them to do any work. We do all works for them which they take it in granted. They doesn't seems to help us. So we can't blindly blame the youngsters as such...
ReplyDeleteI bet those kids heard the expression 'LEAVE IT' so many times that now they don't bother. Sad! I once knew someone who never allowed her kids to help in any way so that when she really needed help there was none forthcoming.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, it isn't your problem and certainly not worth getting abused over should you interfere.
ReplyDeleteI do feel the same as you though, that mother should have taught her kids from day one to help out.
Like the rest I am hanging this squarely on the Mom's overworked shoulders.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, most of my contemporaries would not have lifted a finger without parental coaching even back in the day. Lots of parents who don't teach, same as any generation.
ReplyDeleteI am with you, "Not My Problem".
ReplyDeleteAlthough it is frustrating to watch, don't you worry. That Mom will wonder what the hell she did wrong when those kids are still living with her after they turn 30. :-)
ReplyDeleteExample: a 12ish year old girl, cute as a button, plays gymnastics on the chairs in the waiting room while Mom says not one word. A 17 year old boy who is killing it, working/high school/college classes. I keep warning him to have some fun and not burn out by the time he's 21.
I work in a retail environment where I see thousands of people during any given shift. And yep, those bratty, entitled kids (and occasional obnoxious adults) sure do stand out. But they stand out because they're relatively few and far between. Nobody is drawn to notice the kids that quietly help out because their family unit runs smoothly and functions without incident. By far, the vast majority of our experiences with our customers'kidlets are anywhere from fantastic to neutral. Those miserable few do stand out but I don't think they're significantly representative of their generation. Still, it sure is disheartening to see scenes like you described.
ReplyDeleteObviously not an Italian mother. My kids knew from the get go. I'm the mom, therefore I am Queen. :D
ReplyDelete