I've been thinking lately about my generation and that of my kids. I have known for a long time that I would not have wanted to deal with the social media, smartphones, and the internet in general as a teen. I probably couldn't have handled it either. Most teens can't. If you believe your child is any different, look through his phone and social media accounts- unexpectedly and often just to prove yourself right. But that's not really where I want to go with this entry.
I've been making a mental list of things that my children won't get to experience due to changing times. Yesterday, I asked my family its opinion, and with that I decided to share it and give you something to ponder.
They won't get the thrill of sitting next to their boyfriend on the bench seat of his pickup. Most all vehicles now have consoles. I rode next to my hubby for years even after we were married.
They won't know the fun and freedom of dragging main with a carload of friends meeting 20 other carloads of "friends" after school or on a Friday night. Eventually that would lead to everyone parking in a lot and chatting together. Sometimes it led to bonfires on country roads.
They won't know the thrill of being asked to partner with a boy on a couples' skate.
They won't ever know the freedom of going off to college without the safety net of Google maps or a phone in the car- just in case.
They won't know the freedom of being able to say something or do something that won't forever be recorded on a smartphone or an iPod or a computer somewhere. I don't know about you, but I did and said plenty of stupid things I regret. I'm thankful to have done them in "private" without the world watching. Growing up with the world watching is almost like being a celebrity. Teens think they want this, but really, they don't.
Sure, there are plenty of other things none of us will miss and they won't ever have to deal with...
They won't have the hassle of cassette tapes and Walkman batteries.
They won't know what it's like to type an 8 page research paper on a typewriter.
I'm sure you are making a mental list of things you would add to this already.
As a 40 year old mom, the only thing I can say that would have been amazing to have as a teen that my kids have today, is to have had an iPod with an iTunes library of my favorite music. What I would have given for that.
Change is inevitable, and I cannot image being a teen today with all the pressures they have on them. It's amazing that they have any meaningful relationships with their 15 second attention spans and insatiable need to be entertained, but I'm sure they will figure it out just like we did.... probably against our parents' beliefs that we could get it done either.
I've been making a mental list of things that my children won't get to experience due to changing times. Yesterday, I asked my family its opinion, and with that I decided to share it and give you something to ponder.
They won't get the thrill of sitting next to their boyfriend on the bench seat of his pickup. Most all vehicles now have consoles. I rode next to my hubby for years even after we were married.
They won't know the fun and freedom of dragging main with a carload of friends meeting 20 other carloads of "friends" after school or on a Friday night. Eventually that would lead to everyone parking in a lot and chatting together. Sometimes it led to bonfires on country roads.
They won't know the thrill of being asked to partner with a boy on a couples' skate.
They won't ever know the freedom of going off to college without the safety net of Google maps or a phone in the car- just in case.
They won't know the freedom of being able to say something or do something that won't forever be recorded on a smartphone or an iPod or a computer somewhere. I don't know about you, but I did and said plenty of stupid things I regret. I'm thankful to have done them in "private" without the world watching. Growing up with the world watching is almost like being a celebrity. Teens think they want this, but really, they don't.
Sure, there are plenty of other things none of us will miss and they won't ever have to deal with...
They won't have the hassle of cassette tapes and Walkman batteries.
They won't know what it's like to type an 8 page research paper on a typewriter.
I'm sure you are making a mental list of things you would add to this already.
As a 40 year old mom, the only thing I can say that would have been amazing to have as a teen that my kids have today, is to have had an iPod with an iTunes library of my favorite music. What I would have given for that.
Change is inevitable, and I cannot image being a teen today with all the pressures they have on them. It's amazing that they have any meaningful relationships with their 15 second attention spans and insatiable need to be entertained, but I'm sure they will figure it out just like we did.... probably against our parents' beliefs that we could get it done either.
