Pages

Ads 468x60px

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Generation gap?

Ever learning from each other, regardless of age!
Every generation thinks they're unique.  Their problems have never been experienced by previous generations.  They must forge ahead into unknown territory all by themselves.  No one from another generation could possibly understand their trials.

Let's take apart this myth.
First, whatever generation you were born into, is the place in time that you are going to relate to, whatever your age.  Although THE world doesn't revolve around you, YOUR world revolves around you and your current challenges. That doesn't mean that someone a few years older than you didn't experience similar difficulties (and ultimately, get through them!).

Certain stages of life produce fairly predictable trials, difficulties and growth.  These universal stages apply to everyone.  Example - Puberty, establishing family and career, parenthood, old age.  Not many people can get through life without muddling through these (and other) experiences. 

Although external factors might change and produce their own challenges, basic parenting principles  remain constant.  Even during times of war or disaster, mothers still protect their children and try to keep their lives as "normal" as possible.  The basics of life still need to be met.  

When you dismiss the input of your aging parents, grandparents or older moms as "out of touch" or not relevant to today's challenges, you are missing out on a wealth of knowledge and wisdom.  Your parents and other older adults have experienced trials and have lived to tell about it.  They have something you don't have - hindsight.  They have already raised teenagers.  They know what sleepless nights are like.  They dealt with behavior problems, health problems and relationship problems.  You can learn from their successes and mistakes.

Each generation doesn't have to start over from scratch.  Implementing time-tested methods of child raising and making friends with a few slightly older mothers, will help tremendously in raising your children in today's world.  And as moms, we can use all the help we can get!






1 comments:

  1. Thanks for these wise and loving words! They are so welcome to me and I think to many others.
    Cheers,

    Jeanneke.

    ReplyDelete