#6... Hope the count stops soon!

I can’t believe it!  Robin Williams, the happiest and funniest man of my childhood, someone I admired and really enjoyed watching him in all his work, supposedly found it was easier not to grow old.  Why?  Just like my previous post, we will never know.

Then I see the other side of the spectrum.  Often when riding my bicycle to work, I come across an elderly man walking.  He must be in his 90’s.  He walks at what I would consider a quick pace for his age, but he moves about 3 inches a step.  He looks happy each time as I go past him in the early morning.  It is almost as if that is all he has left to feel good about, and enjoys the walk. 

I get more confused.

I also noted another generational issue recently.  In my generation, we would take pride on being aware of other people’s time.  What I notice now is the people in the 20’s just live the moment more and more without regard to what was planned or tomorrow.  It just seems odd that they just do not have any issues making others wait and cancel plans as they are enjoying their moment in time.  Just seems so selfish.  But could be I am just becoming that grumpy old man no one enjoys.  I just feel lie there is little respect left in the world.

There's been a fundamental change in adult life. Teachers, pediatricians and therapists are seeing children of all ages who are not afraid of their parents. Not one bit. Not of their power, not of their position, not of their ability to apply standards and enforce consequences.

These days, that look seems to have been replaced by a feeble nod of parental acquiescence -- and an earnest acknowledgment of "how hard it is to be a kid these days."  I have seen children call their parents names and tell them how stupid they are; I have heard adolescents use strings of expletives toward them. 

I have concluded not only are the kids unafraid of their parents, parents are afraid of their kids! What ever happened to the phrases our parents relied on to put us in our place? "Keep your shirt on." "On the double." "What do you think we are, made of money?" "Because I said so." "If you want sympathy, look it up in the dictionary”, or  "Don't bother me unless you're bleeding". Parents once commanded respect.

Today's generation of children is the most closely observed, monitored, cherished and scheduled in our history. They are also the most praised. Families are smaller, and there are fewer children upon whom parents can beam their attention.  Many parents these days don't expect their children to contribute much around the house, although they do expect them to achieve outside the house.

Could it be this is the answer I am looking for.  We never get to be kids, so we do not want to become older adults?  Could it be someone stole their childhood so they steal their adulthood?

Carry OnMy Friends, Carry On…