Yesterday after church and dinner with friends I got home and was so tired I could barely move, but it was a good kind of tired. On Friday I had celebrated my man’s birthday with family, on Saturday I had gone to a new venue to sell my books and was pleasantly surprised and very pleased about the response and I completed the process of book number ten, of which I am very pleased, Mother Wit with Dera Jones and I.
However, as I lolled in my bed, thoughts ran through my mind, thinking about my children, your children, the world’s children, particularly African-American children and it occurred to me that in so many cases, those of us in our fifties and sixties and even older are working circles around young people. And before someone says; ‘It’s the economy stupid,’ I am going to say, no not just that.
For years and years I have noticed it. In prior generations almost always the current generation was more educated and ultimately out earned and were more successful than previous generations and in my humble opinion that is as it should be. However, I am very concerned now, because while there are many, many young people doing well and becoming educated. There are way too many who are underemployed, unemployed and undereducated to the point that even if they get jobs, they are earning pittances, which makes them unable to take care of themselves or anyone else. Or, they have such sporadic work histories, leaving jobs at the first problem, or feeling it is okay to dress or say anything on a job they chose to. And I am not bashing, I am simply trying to understand how this all transpired. Is it because we gave them too much, made is all seem so easy or do they think it just doesn’t matter?
I can remember growing up and everyone worked, man, woman and child. People didn’t buy things they couldn’t afford and it seems we all understood that we would start out with less and work our way towards more. Now it seems that some young people feel they are entitled to the best world has to offer and they want it right now…
The other day I mentioned not understanding this and was basically told, not to judge, just love and that people who don’t know, cannot do. Well, I am sorry, but many of the people who I am addressing to do know and were raised to do, they had simply for some reason decided they are owed something. And they were all LOVED. I am guessing that maybe the prosperity of our generation perhaps allowed us to overindulge our children and didn’t allow us enough time to explain or teach how important, ‘the work’ aspect of life is, but surely I don’t know…just RAMBLING out loud.
BE PEACE~
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13 comments:
Angelia.. I have to agree with you. I remember looking forward to working as a teen. Today, Teens, IMO, beleive the they should not have to work. They take things for granted. They have a sense of entitlement - it is theirs just because. Praying I am raising my Man-child differently.
"Cilla,
it doesnt even seem to have to do with the raising, it seems more a culture...many kids I know work, but they underwork and have to live with other people or they get bad work history and get stuck, it breaks my heart, because so much of it is avoidable...so avoidable...
angelia
Angelia, you're correct in your thoughts. I can't even offer a possible reason why. I do have a question for you though:
Is it possible that the society made up by the younger generation (those my age and younger) are giving up? Are they afraid to fail, so they don't even bother to try?
Jen,
that could be it, there seems to be a plethora of reasons...fear not being the least of them...and self-motivation cannot be taught...
angelia
Angelia....Sometimes we as parents over indulge our children when they see what's goin on out their, many of them say, well I have a roof over my head and food when I'm hungry, so why bother. I have a 51 year old famaily member who told his mom that he was not asked to be in this world.... We have to take some of the blame because sometimes we are the enabler. Growing up I could not be in bed at 10 & 11 o'clock in the morning. These days our young people sleep until far into the afternoon while we are at work.
Threading,
you are absolutely right and I certainly have been an enabler with my children...and at the 51 YO, wow, which proves it is a generational ISH...and I am always puzzled when I call someone's home and they are still in bed at noon and arent sick and dont work the night shift...#sighing#
i agree with the enabling, the over-indulging and all that, but what about the internet? In our day, we weren't even allowed to watch hours of t.v. You got approval to watch a show (and that was after chores and homework), and then you had to get your butt up and go out and PLAY! We were a generation of movers, whether we were performing chores or just playing games. We didn't have a computer to sit in front of and accomplish all of our tasks: letters, phone calls, work, play, socializing... Our children's minds and bodies are not in the habit of movement...go they don't move.
There is nothing left to be said your on point.
Angelia, you bring up valid points. This is not a matter of "judging" this is a matter of the truth. Being of "our" ages, it is called "wisdom", something this generation knows nothing about. The world i continually going to hell in a hand basket because as generations get older and older, they know nothing about hard work and the things we encountered when we were growing up. This is not a case of some not knowing, God gave you common sense You know the difference between right and wrong, but you choose to buck against what's right because you want an excuse to create a generation of "junk". And that is MY Humble Opinion. And for those younger folks, THAT's keeping it "real".
DJ,
I totally agree but the internet ties into the enabling and indulging, we are soooo busy making money to spoil them with that in many cases, the internet, tv et al are babysitting...
angelia
@Author's Hideaway...
clapping...you will see two kids raised in same house by same parents and the work ethics are so different. There are many who CHOOSE to do nothing. Sad, but true, there are young men in this city who choose homelessness over working.
angelia
Angelia,
I totally agree. While some people may try to group me in that "younger generation" due to my age, I hope that my work ethic removes me from that "group". I have never been able to understand people my age or yournger who feel as if "they" (whoever "they" are) owes them something. I have been working since I was 14 yrs old and have become more independent with each passing year. I can honestly say that, at this point in my life, every job I've ever was a stepping stone to something better in my journey. To say that the current thought process or (lack of) work ethic amongst my peers scares me is an immeasurable understatement.
Angelia, it is not just younger generations. I work with older people who don't want to go the extra mile. It society and its need to ge things faster with less effort. That is good for some situations but not all.
Some of generation X, Y, Z are learning from example. I see it time again how many folks don't want to do the work needed. *sigh* One of my co-workers complains when she has to learn something new, saying that we didn't it this way in department X. SMH.
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