Quote:
Originally Posted by KatieDidNot
As a gal who is part of the "Little House on the Prairie Generation", I have just finished raising two young men. It is not easy. It is a different World.
I worried about Aids and Hepatitis. I had to ensure they were prepared to protect themselves. I frequently told them that sex so early was unacceptable, but I was also brutally aware that they were going to do it anyway. Therefore I preached continuously about protection...and it paid off. I for one am happy condoms are available to our children because pregnancy was the least of my concern, it was a disease that would significantly shorten their life.
I am also happy about The Plan B Pill. The reasons were eloquently stated in other posts.
I had to worry about bullying, because fights are not handled fist-to-cuffs anymore. They are handled with guns and knives.
I had to worry about suicides and car crashes.
I had to worry about supplementing their education so they could get into good colleges.
Drugs? Wow...another thread entirely. Alcohol too.
Schools are getting involved because some parents just don't. The kids today need to learn tolerance, understanding and acceptance of others. IMHO, that is the only way that "their society" will move forward. All this hate stuff is getting old, and it is crippling us. They have challenges that we have never faced and children are growing up a lot faster. They are much more sophisticated and technically savvy and they were raised by a generation that was the first that had to incorporate technical skills in their life. I will say, they are not as respectful, but I think every generation says that though...
If I am ever a Grandma, I am going to be the one that makes yummy baked goods, send them home to their mom and dad with a nice sugar high, and take them to fun places. I am going to support the parents (my kids) with wisdom, if they ask for it, but overall, I think they are in a better position to raise their kids the way they deem best.
The World is rapidly changing, our future generations are going to have to change to survive. For me, I am just going to love them, hope I provided them the right tools necessary to succeed in life and be a good citizen.
Katie
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Your last two paragraphs echo exactly what we all had to do..........as it is a changing world. Words of wisdom for sure.
Our daughter didn't adopt her first child until age 30, after trying for years to conceive....married at age 25.
Her second two babies, natural births, followed after we welcomed our "first" who is now 19. So, the stork was just waiting in the wings.........but we love them all equally..........now our son has two as well.......ditto. We have a range of ages......
I've never been asked for advice and never gave advice as I realized from EARLY ON.......they had totally different "ideas" as far as giving birth (midwifes) (home births).......to feeding , etc., etc.........so best to not say anything as far as what we did in the olden days.....the covered wagon days. We are fortunate in that our two adult kids are intelligent and thoughtful and everything seems to be going well with their child rearing......in a changing world. Whereas, we have cousins who are a few years younger than us who still think their grandkids should be raised like they raised their own in the early 1980's.........not going to happen.
Things changed so quickly from when I had mine in 1968 and 1971....to shortly afterward......that each of my friends has a totally different experience.........as do their daughters TODAY. Ditto for what to feed or not feed the little ones........how clean to keep them, etc.
The children are all being raised more naturally nowadays......not every hair has to be in place......the fru fru frilly dresses of the 60s are GONE.
But the kids are happy, bright and loving..........this is all that's important in the greater scheme of things. And super bright in high technology, love books, scientific minded..........which will be a plus through school.
I trust they will advise their own children on how to be loving partners when the "time is right" and not too soon........the consequences of rushing into something at a young age, etc........finishing school (college), etc. in order to get a good job, etc.........
But, our duties.......now that we are grandparents........is just to enjoy them.......NOT to preach to our adult kids or our grandchildren. We are lucky to have a good rapport with the grandchildren and they do confide in us.......we just listen.......we are just "there".....the young people today are more wise than most realize......
YOU SAID IT BEST: (SEE BELOW)....
""If I am ever a Grandma, I am going to be the one that makes yummy baked goods, send them home to their mom and dad with a nice sugar high, and take them to fun places. I am going to support the parents (my kids) with wisdom, if they ask for it, but overall, I think they are in a better position to raise their kids the way they deem best.
The World is rapidly changing, our future generations are going to have to change to survive. For me, I am just going to love them, hope I provided them the right tools necessary to succeed in life and be a good citizen. ""