topic Re: "What's The Matter with Kids Today" in Community Chat

"What's The Matter with Kids Today"

suzyQ3 — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 17:55:30 GMT

Eventually, my point might be clear.

We had our daughter, our 15-year-old grandson, and his long-time friend come for dinner at our house last weekend.

We talked about school. The friend speaks fluent Japanese because her parents sent her to a full-immersion Japanese elementary school (her father is Korean; her mother, Japanese).

Both kids are now in high school and are in Mock Trial (they are given cases and play the roles of prosecutor or defender) and in Model UN, in which the students play roles as ambassadors and delegates and have to do research, debate, and come up with solutions to international problems.

Both of them weighed in on current events with us; both were knowledgeable and exhibited a good handle on important issues both national and local.

They were also polite and helpful, while chattering away incessantly. They were both very, very funny.

I requested that my grandson play the piano for me. He's been a student for probably ten years now, and I love his classical improv.

I reminded him that he and his 13-year-old sister were coming again for dinner this weekend and that their grandfather was making his beyond compare famous tacos. He told his friend that they are life-changing. So of course we invited her, too.

Am I bragging? Well, yeah, I guess. But that is definitely NOT my point.

Sometimes I just get fed up with oldsters like me who paint the whole newer generations as spoiled, entitled, selfish, lazy, lacking in morals -- I'm sure that I missed some labels.

I think some base their opinions more on news stories, which by definition highlight the worst, rather than on actual contact with young people -- some of us may even have contact only with our peers.

My two guests (and my granddaughter) are hardly singular, yet so many dwell on the negatives. Really, all past generations were full of "variety." No one generation has a patent as being the last civilized group of people. The world changes. We can never go back to what some view as the better ol' days.

So the next time you feel like belting out "What's The Matter with Kids Today," think about all those younger people who, although different from us, are enhancing and making our world better.

Re: "What's The Matter with Kids Today"

luvmybeetle — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 00:51:25 GMT

@suzyQ3 Well said. My daughter learned Japanese in high school and was very good at speaking. I learned a little also.

Re: "What's The Matter with Kids Today"

mom2four0418 — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 01:06:42 GMT

@suzyQ3 wrote:
Eventually, my point might be clear.

We had our daugher, our 15-year-old grandson, and his long-time friend come for dinner at our house last weekend.

We talked about school. The friend speaks fluent Japanese because her parents sent her to a full-immersion Japanese elementary school (her father is Korean; her mother, Japanese).

Both kids are now in high school and are in Mock Trial (they are given cases and play the roles of prosecutor or defender) and in Model UN, in which the students play roles as ambassadors and delegates and have to do research, debate, and come up with solutions to international problems.

Both of them weighed in on current events with us; both were knowledgeable and exhibited a good handle on important issues both national and local.

They were also polite and helpful, while chattering away incessantly. They were both very, very funny.

I requested that my grandson play the piano for me. He's been a student for probably ten years now, and I love his classical improv.

I reminded him that he and his 13-year-old sister were coming again for dinner this weekend and that their grandfather was making his beyond compare famous tacos. He told his friend that they are life-changing. So of course we invited her, too.

Am I bragging? Well, yeah, I guess. But that is definitely NOT my point.

Sometimes I just get fed up with oldsters like me who paint the whole newer generations as spoiled, entitled, selfish, lazy, lacking in morals -- I'm sure that I missed some labels.

I think some base their opinions more on news stories, which by definition highlight the worst, rather than on actual contact with young people -- some of us may even have contact only with our peers.

My two guests (and my granddaughter) are hardly singular, yet so many dwell on the negatives. Really, all past generations were full of "variety." No one generation has a patent as being the last civilized group of people. The world changes. We can never go back to what some view as the better ol' days.

So the next time you feel like belting out "What's The Matter with Kids Today," think about all those younger people who, although different from us, are enhancing and making our world better.

Beautiful post, suzyQ3. Thank You!

Re: "What's The Matter with Kids Today"

Free2be — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 01:08:47 GMT

What delightful company! I'd love to be a fly on the wall to enjoy their chatter and piano but I'd be wishing to have a seat at the table for grandfather's beyond compare famous tacos!

Seriously, schools across this nation are teeming with great kids and sadly, even some dropouts who have lost their way will be fortunate enough to get a second chance to prove themselves and will do well.

Re: "What's The Matter with Kids Today"

dmod nj — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 01:35:34 GMT

@suzyQ3 wrote:
Eventually, my point might be clear.

We had our daugher, our 15-year-old grandson, and his long-time friend come for dinner at our house last weekend.

We talked about school. The friend speaks fluent Japanese because her parents sent her to a full-immersion Japanese elementary school (her father is Korean; her mother, Japanese).

Both kids are now in high school and are in Mock Trial (they are given cases and play the roles of prosecutor or defender) and in Model UN, in which the students play roles as ambassadors and delegates and have to do research, debate, and come up with solutions to international problems.

Both of them weighed in on current events with us; both were knowledgeable and exhibited a good handle on important issues both national and local.

They were also polite and helpful, while chattering away incessantly. They were both very, very funny.

I requested that my grandson play the piano for me. He's been a student for probably ten years now, and I love his classical improv.

I reminded him that he and his 13-year-old sister were coming again for dinner this weekend and that their grandfather was making his beyond compare famous tacos. He told his friend that they are life-changing. So of course we invited her, too.

Am I bragging? Well, yeah, I guess. But that is definitely NOT my point.

Sometimes I just get fed up with oldsters like me who paint the whole newer generations as spoiled, entitled, selfish, lazy, lacking in morals -- I'm sure that I missed some labels.

I think some base their opinions more on news stories, which by definition highlight the worst, rather than on actual contact with young people -- some of us may even have contact only with our peers.

My two guests (and my granddaughter) are hardly singular, yet so many dwell on the negatives. Really, all past generations were full of "variety." No one generation has a patent as being the last civilized group of people. The world changes. We can never go back to what some view as the better ol' days.

So the next time you feel like belting out "What's The Matter with Kids Today," think about all those younger people who, although different from us, are enhancing and making our world better.

@suzyQ3

STANDING OVATION!

Re: "What's The Matter with Kids Today"

SilleeMee — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 01:44:50 GMT

I really enjoyed reading your post @suzyQ3 . It was very insightful and I wish there were more people in this world like you.

"We have children to help bring us out of our past and into the future."

Re: "What's The Matter with Kids Today"

GCR18 — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 01:45:18 GMT

I think people generalize. My niece is 16 and maintains a 4.0 GPA. She knows what she wants to do when she grows up and has a college picked out. When I was 16, I had no clue.

Re: "What's The Matter with Kids Today"

RedTop — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 02:14:10 GMT

@suzyQ3,

Grandchildren like yours should be bragged on!

I do not have grandchildren; okay by me, being grandma was never on my bucket list. My daughters are successful young women who love their work, and what they do in life, and never wanted children. I have one nephew; good kid, owns a home, and works a government job. My family is very proud of the nieces and nephew.

“What’s the matter with kids today” applies to every one of my husbands nieces and nephews and great nephews. Everything we hear about them just makes us shake our heads. Oldest is a functioning alcoholic, 5 kids by 4 women. Only one who had a career is on marriage #5. Next one also a functioning alcoholic. Next nephew insists his wife doesn’t have to work! Married 2 years, have a child, and his parents have bought 90% of the diapers and clothing for their grandchild, plus pay monthly bills for the couple. They still don’t have a pot to P in, nor a window to throw it out of, but drive a $40,000 vehicle. His parents are working 2 jobs each. Niece is getting ready to graduate; military won’t take her, she never applied herself in school, barely skimmed thru each grade, but “wants” to go to college. She’s pretty; I look for her to hang out the drive thru window at her current job for awhile, and eventually make some poor boys life miserable. Great nephew is a pierced and tatted freak; proudly says his butt cheeks are the only not pierced/tatted skin on his body......

Right now, not a one of the above is making this world better.

Re: "What's The Matter with Kids Today"

lovesrecess — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 02:24:16 GMT

I have two granddaughters who are jrs in high school and are 4.0 and excellent dancers and athletes....one just scored a perfect score on the ACT...but these are not the kind of young people who are shown on tv or mentioned on social media....it’s only the misguided, socially-maladjusted troublemakers who are somewhat “celebrated” for being “ different” and not following societal norms....so the entire age group seems to get lumped together as being problems. If you have a wonderful young person who works hard and is making something of themselves....give them a hug from me and tell them we are glad they are our tomorrow’s leaders.

Re: "What's The Matter with Kids Today"

Lindsays Grandma — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 02:16:59 GMT

I have no doubt there are many "kids" out there who are well behaved, respectful and very smart. What takes the attention away from them are the bad reputations of schools and the frightful things some "kids" do. I am sure by now we all know that bad overshadows the good, sad, but true. The future belongs to the children of today, hopefully they will turn it around and overshadow the bad.

Re: "What's The Matter with Kids Today"

mom2four0418 — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 02:30:33 GMT

@Lindsays Grandma wrote:
I have no doubt there are many "kids" out there who are well behaved, respectful and very smart. What takes the attention away from them are the bad reputations of schools and the frightful things some "kids" do. I am sure by now we all know that bad overshadows the good, sad, but true. The future belongs to the children of today, hopefully they will turn it around and overshadow the bad.

They already are!!

Re: "What's The Matter with Kids Today"

Lindsays Grandma — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 03:29:10 GMT

@RedTop wrote:
@suzyQ3,
Grandchildren like yours should be bragged on!

I do not have grandchildren; okay by me, being grandma was never on my bucket list. My daughters are successful young women who love their work, and what they do in life, and never wanted children. I have one nephew; good kid, owns a home, and works a government job. My family is very proud of the nieces and nephew.

“What’s the matter with kids today” applies to every one of my husbands nieces and nephews and great nephews. Everything we hear about them just makes us shake our heads. Oldest is a functioning alcoholic, 5 kids by 4 women. Only one who had a career is on marriage #5. Next one also a functioning alcoholic. Next nephew insists his wife doesn’t have to work! Married 2 years, have a child, and his parents have bought 90% of the diapers and clothing for their grandchild, plus pay monthly bills for the couple. They still don’t have a pot to P in, nor a window to throw it out of, but drive a $40,000 vehicle. His parents are working 2 jobs each. Niece is getting ready to graduate; military won’t take her, she never applied herself in school, barely skimmed thru each grade, but “wants” to go to college. She’s pretty; I look for her to hang out the drive thru window at her current job for awhile, and eventually make some poor boys life miserable. Great nephew is a pierced and tatted freak; proudly says his butt cheeks are the only not pierced/tatted skin on his body......

Right now, not a one of the above is making this world better.

@RedTop wrote:
@suzyQ3,
Grandchildren like yours should be bragged on!

I do not have grandchildren; okay by me, being grandma was never on my bucket list. My daughters are successful young women who love their work, and what they do in life, and never wanted children. I have one nephew; good kid, owns a home, and works a government job. My family is very proud of the nieces and nephew.

“What’s the matter with kids today” applies to every one of my husbands nieces and nephews and great nephews. Everything we hear about them just makes us shake our heads. Oldest is a functioning alcoholic, 5 kids by 4 women. Only one who had a career is on marriage #5. Next one also a functioning alcoholic. Next nephew insists his wife doesn’t have to work! Married 2 years, have a child, and his parents have bought 90% of the diapers and clothing for their grandchild, plus pay monthly bills for the couple. They still don’t have a pot to P in, nor a window to throw it out of, but drive a $40,000 vehicle. His parents are working 2 jobs each. Niece is getting ready to graduate; military won’t take her, she never applied herself in school, barely skimmed thru each grade, but “wants” to go to college. She’s pretty; I look for her to hang out the drive thru window at her current job for awhile, and eventually make some poor boys life miserable. Great nephew is a pierced and tatted freak; proudly says his butt cheeks are the only not pierced/tatted skin on his body......

Right now, not a one of the above is making this world better.

How sad. It appears that parents lost control at some point and gave up. In any case, unless they want help those five people don't have much of a future to look forward to.

Re: "What's The Matter with Kids Today"

september — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 04:30:07 GMT

Nice to read a positive post like this! And you have every reason to be proud.

I’m also very impressed with all the younger members of my family, and their friends that I’ve met.

Re: "What's The Matter with Kids Today"

Pook — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 09:21:56 GMT

@suzyQ3 Great post!

Every generation was talked about by the previous generation who asked the same question of "What's the matter with Kids Today?". Every generation has had some bad and every one will but often what is considered negative is only inability to accept change and what is different than what the older generations know.

Re: "What's The Matter with Kids Today"

Desertdi — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 09:38:36 GMT

Oh NO!!! After reading the title of this thread..............I can't get the song from "Bye Bye Birdie" out of my head...................

Re: "What's The Matter with Kids Today"

meallen616 — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 12:31:24 GMT

@suzyQ3,

Thank you for such a positive, wonderful post!

Re: "What's The Matter with Kids Today"

suzyQ3 — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 17:52:30 GMT

@RedTop wrote:
@suzyQ3,
Grandchildren like yours should be bragged on!

I do not have grandchildren; okay by me, being grandma was never on my bucket list. My daughters are successful young women who love their work, and what they do in life, and never wanted children. I have one nephew; good kid, owns a home, and works a government job. My family is very proud of the nieces and nephew.

“What’s the matter with kids today” applies to every one of my husbands nieces and nephews and great nephews. Everything we hear about them just makes us shake our heads. Oldest is a functioning alcoholic, 5 kids by 4 women. Only one who had a career is on marriage #5. Next one also a functioning alcoholic. Next nephew insists his wife doesn’t have to work! Married 2 years, have a child, and his parents have bought 90% of the diapers and clothing for their grandchild, plus pay monthly bills for the couple. They still don’t have a pot to P in, nor a window to throw it out of, but drive a $40,000 vehicle. His parents are working 2 jobs each. Niece is getting ready to graduate; military won’t take her, she never applied herself in school, barely skimmed thru each grade, but “wants” to go to college. She’s pretty; I look for her to hang out the drive thru window at her current job for awhile, and eventually make some poor boys life miserable. Great nephew is a pierced and tatted freak; proudly says his butt cheeks are the only not pierced/tatted skin on his body......

Right now, not a one of the above is making this world better.

@RedTop, I'm so sorry to hear about these problems. Maybe at some later date, they will find themselves.

Re: "What's The Matter with Kids Today"

Greeneyedlady21 — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 18:26:40 GMT

I love your post @suzyQ3 and I couldn't agree more. There are some oldsters with very bad qualities too. Bad qualities are not a function of age.

Re: "What's The Matter with Kids Today"

sidsmom — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 19:31:48 GMT

@RedTop

I read your post 2x...and came up with the same thought.

Your husband’s brother/sister (and spouse) is the common

denominator with their situation. They are the stumbling block.

Should be, ‘What’s the matter with PARENTS today.’

I see huge enabling actions playing out w/ their scenario.

I mean...didn’t we see this play out with the cheating scandal

recently? It’s not the kids; it’s the parents of these kids

who are the problem.

Re: "What's The Matter with Kids Today"

LTT1 — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 20:40:02 GMT

@suzyQ3

It is too easy to be hemmed in by a few examples of the bad or the lost.

Our eyes need to be opened to our hope.

There are so many examples of good kids....and good parents.

Great post, too!❤️