Yesterday’s 16 is Today’s 14… and so on

“I put a dollar in one of those change machines.  Nothing changed.”

Just like my parents said 30 years ago and their parents said 30 years before that and so on… we are living in different times.  I am approaching this not only as a parent but also as a coach and teacher.  The opportunities and challenges I had as a pre-teen and teen were similar to those that these same groups face today; except there are many more and they seem to be accelerated.  (Click Here) for the latest story involving students and cell phones that should have everyone concerned.

My two sons are currently in 6^th and 4^th respectively and I have a vivid memory of what my life was like when I was their age.  In 6^th grade, a few of my friends experimented with alcohol.  I had a few classmates who smoked.  Boys and girls were dating, including yours truly who still remembers learning how to “French-kiss” through a baptism by fire when my then 7^th grade girlfriend said goodbye to me and I swear almost took out my tonsils.  I am pretty sure not much of this has changed today although based on data I have seen, smoking and drinking are down a little which is a good sign. 

I am sure based on the first paragraph that you know what is up.   When I was in 6^th grade (1980), we did not have the Internet or cell phones (there may have been cell phones available but only the Gordon Gekko's of the world were using them for business).  Note the most telling line from the story above from the police – “Technological advances have surpassed our preparedness in educating children as to the dangers and negative effects such activities may promote.’’

The reality is that many kids are more technologically savvy than their parents; which means they have more access to information, both helpful and harmful.  The last thing any kid should have to do is grow up too fast.  Their minds can only process so much and most do not having the maturity to handle what is out there such as sex, drugs and alcohol combined with age old dilemmas of peer pressure, self-esteem and bullying.  This means that today’s kids are facing the same struggles kids always have from one generation to the next… except it has just been accelerated.

To help with this, we must continue to be diligent with all our children and not expect it to happen as referenced in our opening quote by comedic genius George Carlin.