Strange how inspiration for writing a blog post sometimes comes from a least expected place. Today, my inspiration comes in the wake of an earlier phone conversation I had with a friend. We were bemoaning how the upcoming generation of adults seem to have an unabashed attitdue towards their peers, namely parents.
Young adults have a brazen way of talking and behaving which often leaves us older ones looking on in utter bewilderment! They have no reservations saying exactly what they want and seemingly have no need to present awkward topics of conversation with the necessary etiquettes and sensitivity that they require. It’s up to us, their parents, to keep up with the times and reluctantly realise that this is the way things are done now. No preamble needed or consideration of the company they’re in. It’s one blanket attitude they present to all and, often, we find ourselves too flabbergasted to respond.
Alhamdulillah, I must confess that I’ve not personally experienced such behaviour in my own four walls compared to the scale my extended family and friends have with their own children. However, I have observed others. I see situations where I am quietly appalled at the audacity with which young adults chastise or lecture their parents about acceptable ways to behave – all the time not realising that they themselves are betraying their own counsel. In some cases, I’ve seen how some elders are left questioning all their years of parenting and asking themselves if they ever did anything right! The self-doubt is quite disturbing.
What confuses me is that these same young people benefitted from the upbringing their parents bestowed upon them and never did they begrudge any shortcomings. But as soon as they move on and step into the world, they somehow discover that their parents’ shortcomings were far wider and deeper than they could every have known – to the point where the chasm will never be bridged. It was exactly this situation which I believe lead to the death of my sister’s friend last week; she was ostracised and ignored by her adult daughter who had decided that her mother no longer was a necessary part of her life.
The wing of humility which should be lowered over our parents, as they become older and more vulnerable, is one that is lacking into today’s selfish world. No doubt, I have made my own mistakes towards my parents over time and I seek forgiveness for that. However, all around me now, I see there is an unapologetic brazenness with which people are treating their parents and casting them aside if their demands are not met. Something my generation (and older) would never have dared to do. We endured injustices and discussed amongst ourselves but could never envisage reproaching our parents.
It’s all upside down now…
A sure sign that the world is in chaos and we are most likely facing an irreversible trend. An unwelcome and ghastly glimpse of what’s to come in time. My one comfort is that I will not be around when that beast is unleashed.
I am certain that social media and the internet has a lot to answer for – making young people impatient and irritable if things aren’t done quickly or to the satisfaction of their individual whims. This unhealthy stance has been replicated onto their human relationships and. worryingly, onto the people that they should hold in high regard.
A lifestyle dominated by ‘disposables” from food, to clothes and income, has now inveigled this new generation into adding one more unsuspecting item onto the list.
