THE PROBLEM WITH KIDS TODAY

     One statement I truly despise is one that contains the words: "kids today" and lump them all into some imaginary box where they apparently all whine, moan, act up, feel entitled, are without manners and so on...I am utterly sick to death of hearing this phrase. If you say you don't spank, then, apparently that means you do nothing in the way of discipline and allow your child carte blanche to do as he/she please with no consequences, redirection...anything. If you bring up anything about kids, there will ALWAYS be that one person, you know who I am talking about...that one that says: "Kids today are out of control and awful, they have no manners, no discipline and are so rude and wild. They all act entitled." 

Well, I've got news for you person..."kids today" are no more crazy and wild than yesterday, last year, or a hundred years ago. 

     Um, first of all, this isn't a problem with "kids today". It is a kid behavior paired with adult perception issue. Not to mention, this has been going on since the beginning of time. Seriously.




Let's take it back some:

      1963

 


A little further:

1907

                  Kenneth John Freeman, for his Cambridge dissertation published in 1907

 "The counts of the indictment are luxury, bad manners, contempt for authority, disrespect to elders, and a love for chatter in place of exercise. …

Children began to be the tyrants, not the slaves, of their households. They no longer rose from their seats when an elder entered the room; they contradicted their parents, chattered before company, gobbled up the dainties at table, and committed various offences against Hellenic tastes, such as crossing their legs. They tyrannised over the paidagogoi and schoolmasters."

A little further:

A.D. 1274

"The world is passing through troublous times. The young people of
today think of nothing but themselves. They have no reverence for
parents or old age. They are impatient of all restraint. They talk as
if they knew everything, and what passes for wisdom with us is
foolishness with them. As for the girls, they are forward, immodest
and unladylike in speech, behavior and dress." Peter the Hermit

And still further:

8th century BC 

I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on
the frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless
beyond words.

When I was a boy, we were taught to be discrete and respectful of
elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise and impatient of
restraint.
--- Hesiod, Eighth Century B.C. 

So, you see, "kids today" are exactly how they have ALWAYS been and how they will forever be. This isn't new or odd or weird or different. This is how it is. That saying isn't an excuse to be rude to kids and teens or to belittle them or to have no hope. It is a sign that YOU are the one perceiving their behavior through prejudiced eyes and  closed mind. Open your heart and your eyes and realize that "kids today" may in fact be a product of "parents today" that were "kids today" at one time.