Jul 07, 2005 20:54
So I noticed something at work today that reflects (or so I feel) how society is raising the next generation. I was at work, last day with Funtastic Fitness (w00t), playing a parachute game. One little girl ran on top of the parachute to cross to the other side. I told her not to do that because walking on it might tear the parachute. Another little girl piped up, "It's okay, just buy a new one." She said it so matter-of-fact. Ms.Josephine (elderly day care worker) said, "That's the solution kids have these days. If it breaks, it can be replaced. No more taking care of belongings, no more considering where those toys come from and whose money goes into them. The incident did not anger me--but it did make me think. My parents were generous enough with toys, but I never had the mentality that if something broke, it would automatically be replaced. Things seem so different from days when my dad was in high school. He told me about working, saving for school or for his first car, then his second, etc. There was no such thing as a disposable income within the middle-upper middle class. Nowadays, kids as young as 15 have an income that they waste on the latest fashions, electronics, food, etc. When I had a job my senior year in high school, I would've never dreamed of spending it all on trivial things. I did buy lunch on occasion, a new shirt now and then, but most went towards spending a summer at VCU and training with CSz. It just amazes me...I feel like it's a waste. Those jobs could go towards more deserving individuals, not immature teens that use jobs as another 'hang out' joint and slack off, while pissing off customers and infuriating managers...eh, I'm not perfect either. I indulge in eating out often enough and yes, I've spent $20 on eye shadow and $50 on shoes when I shouldn't have. Argh, I just feel like we live in such a materialistic age. And that we are raising the next generation to be even more so. I mean, when I had Barbie dolls, they did NOT have cell phones. And when I see commercials today, I see kids as young as 5 with cell phones and worrying about accessorizing. It's insane. It's as though on one hand, kids are growing up much faster than the previous generation when it comes to being savvy with electronics, accessorizing (which I still don't know how to do), and being 'hip.' I know 5 year-olds at day cares who are very concerned with being like Britney Spears or Lindsay Lohan. When I was 5, I climbed trees. Caught bugs. Made clay/mud pots. And ran around all day. Insane how some of these kids act so adult. BUT...on the other hand, I can't help today's high schooler/college grad (I'm gonna make some people angry with this) are coddled more than ever in our country's history. There's nothing wrong, in my mind, with moving back home after college, or having your parents' pay for undergrad...but at the same time, I feel the level of professionalism has decreased and high schoolers/college students and grads of today are less mature than the high schooler/college students of the previous generation. Eh, what do I know? But I do feel parents keep their kids home longer than their parents kept them. I think the average age of the college grad living at home is 25. 25! Man, those are some awesome parents. My mom is talking to me now about getting out of the house for good, getting a job, paying health insurance, car insurance, rent, utils, car payments--everything on my own. And though I feel I'm getting good practice at it by living in an apartment now, the idea of being entirely on my own within a year intimidates the crap out of me. Eh, everything works out in the end right? Or you just die. So either everything works out or I'll die in which case there will be nothing left to work out. Okay, I can go to sleep easier with that knowledge. How did I go from discussing young kids to me? Egocentrism must be the answer. Aiight, should go do laundry. Oi, it'll be nice having Joe here tonight.