The future is bright but unclear

It has been a long-standing topic of conversation for adults of any era, to evaluate the prospects of the succeeding generations. After recent contemplation, I have come to some rather surprising conclusions, regarding the subjects of this story. I am relatively certain, that the futures for our offspring are simultaneously quite bright while equally unclear.

I arrived at these determinations following a recent visit of my grandchildren. When you are my age you tend to forget what it is like to be around very young children for a protracted period. When you have a 5- and 9- year-old in your home for a couple of days it rekindles memories of days past.

The first and most obvious thing I observed was their boundless energy. It has been nearly three decades since I coexisted with little ones in the home. During their visit I was again reminded of so many behaviors, but their restless always on the go state was amazing to watch. Their excited behaviors bought me two opposing conditions. Their vigorousness inspired me to be much more lively than was my normal senior pace but this hyperactivity led me to a state total weariness by the end of each day.

I had also forgotten how that energy could suddenly be transformed into the total exhaustion that only children can display. The telltale signs like the rubbing of the eyes when sleep was close at hand, which was soon followed by the deep sleep that only young kids enjoy. It made me a bit jealous and I would gladly trade my own senior sleep patterns for such slumber.

My grandchildren’s exuberance was another emotional display that I don’t observe nearly as often in my daily senior life. I noticed this when they returned from a visit with other relatives. Both grandchildren could barely stand still as they poured out their story of seeing their first fireflies. They live in Seattle and I guess they don’t have any fireflies there. When the 5-year-old tried to tell me about the event, he was so excited that his words could not keep up with his excitement. It was very gratifying to see the impact that something as simple as a firefly had upon these grandchildren. It was made even more satisfying, as it connected us across our generation gap.

I explained to both grandchildren how we used to collect fireflies just as they had done, when I was a kid. They were intensely interested when I told them how we used to put our fireflies in a glass jar with holes cut in the lid. For just a few moments both grandparents and grandchildren were part of the same magical scene. It was as if I was their age once more, even if for only for the briefest of moments.

I have held some views regarding the youth of today that I had to adjust following this visit. The first insight that surprised me was the tight but loving discipline that they followed from their parents. On numerous occasions they were reminded, and in a few cases gently reprimanded, by their parents about some behavior.

Their visit got me thinking about the way older generations have always assumed that succeeding descendants will fail to measure up. How often do you hear phrases that begin with the words ... “kids these days?”

It has been this way since the beginning of time and I doubt that it will ever change. Seniors like myself tend to see the many differences that the next generations exhibit instead of looking for the good in them.

Here is perhaps the best evidence for my premise. The great Greek philosopher and teacher Socrates once spoke these words about the youth of his time … “the children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise.”

For me the challenge is to put aside my preconceived perceptions regarding our youth and take the macro or long-term view. We must observe them in relation to their present circumstances.

Stop and think about the world into which they have been born. For them, 9/11 is past history. It is similar to my generation growing up in the aftermath of World War II. That war impacted practically everything in our lives, but for my generation it was only history.

All of our young grandchildren are growing up in this current world of the post 9/11 era. Even the wars in the Middle East predate them. Terrorism is for them what the Cold War was for us.

Both of my grandchildren were born after the first offering of the iPhone. They do not know a world that does not have social media and connections to the cyber world. It affects everything in their lives.

Remember, how people used to predict that television and such modern inventions would ruin the generation of which I was part? Technological inventions are only going to increase and become more and more strange to people my age. Nothing tends to create a gulf between age groups more than the latest device.

Even with all of these differences, I was gratified to watch my granddaughter’s favorite pastime. Whenever she seemed to have a free moment you would find her with a book in hand. During her visit she managed to read several books.

None of us can predict the future and those that do I will attach to them the name “fool.” The best we can hope for is for a bright future for these children of today.

Put away your prejudices and get to know them. I think you will find that they are just like all human beings. They are full of life, hope and dreams. Instead of looking for the “faults in their stars,” enjoy the brightness of their souls. They will keep you a bit younger if you let them!