A Letter to the Older Generation

Dear Older Generation,

When you were a kid, what did your grandparents talk about? Was it the good old time that they had when they were kids? Or did they hang out with you and try to help your generation? I’m not talking about homework or sewing or cooking. 

I’m talking about the serious stuff.

I would really be surprised if you said the latter. Maybe you were lucky to get someone like that or maybe your generation had a better older generation, I don’t know. But most kids today don’t have that luxury.

It seems like the phrase we hear the most is ‘When I was a kid…’ and then yada yada yada. It comes up everywhere. ‘When I was a kid, we had to walk to school. You guys now are so lazy (spoiled, have it easy; take your pick).’ Or ‘When I was a kid, we didn’t have these problems.’ And then you go on and on about how your generation didn’t have troubles with drugs or premarital sex or slipping out at night or something else. ‘Because we had to work hard, we got spanks, and our fathers would’ve yada yada yada and on and on and on.

I have a question. Why do you spend so much time telling us about your generation? I understand, you like your generation much better than ours. You want to tell us about the past. But sometimes, you tell us too much about the past. You start on it and you don’t know when to stop.

From the younger teenagers of America to the older generation, we need your help!!! Yes, our generation does have problems!! We are preached to that premarital sex is ok (as long as it’s safe). People do try to sell drugs in the schools. Kids do sneak out at night and drink and go to parties and do stupid stuff. We do have single mommies in high school and college. Divorce is rampant.

But you aren’t there. You hear about it and start off about why you didn’t have those problems in the ‘old days’. We don’t need to hear anymore about that. We need to hear from you! We need someone to sit down and show us what we are doing wrong, why it isn’t working and what we can do to fix it!! You have the wisdom of decades of experience!

They don’t want us to help them, you say. My grandkids don’t want anything to do with me. Well then, continue to love your grandkids, but shut up about it and find someone else to help. There are plenty of lonely teenagers or young adults or tweens or even kids who would benefit majorly from the guidance you would bring.

I don’t know how to relate to them, you continue, wringing your hands nervously. Have you tried? Have you seriously sat down and tried? Teenagers love to be needed and to be understood and to eat food. Listen to us. “Oh. I get it. I understand. I’m here for you. Call me whenever you need to.” or “Can you help me with this?” “I can’t reach this on the shelf, can you get it?” “Can you come over this afternoon? I need some muscle to help me move this. When we’re done, I’ve got some cookies for us to eat.”

Have you seen the movies they watch? They all show old people as stupid and out of touch…how can I reach generation who believes that? Maybe there’s a reason the movies are like that, hm? Are you out of touch? No offense but, probably. You probably are because you probably didn’t try. You have been stereotyped and you don’t try to overcome that. Movies…they exaggerate, but they have to start somewhere. Where did they start? With the grandparent who doesn’t listen?

I don’t know how to even start!! Go to your church or school! Ask if they have a program that matches adults and children together. If not, I’m sure you could either start one or there’s always Big Brother Big Sister. If you get really serious, you can foster!

I’m sorry if I’ve sounded disrespectful, but the need is real. We need you to step up, to stop hiding behind your old age! Show the men what real manhood looks like and the women what real femininity looks like! Honestly, I do like hanging out with older men rather than teenage boys my own age. Older men are nice and respectful. And unless I find a boy who acts like older men I know, I’m not even going to consider going on date with them.

But how can they know when no one tells them about it or shows it to them?

I was lucky. I have wonderful grandparents who aren’t afraid to talk about life and life’s problems. One grandma talked about modesty. The other talked of the dangers of dating and staying away from it until I was ready. My grandpa talks of why lifestyles matter and my other grandpa talks about the Bible. My parents are not out of this equation either.

But many, many people don’t have that.

Please, someone, be bold and help our generation before it’s too late and you’ve lost your chance. We need it.

From,

Daleenc