Many of our young ones are unable to go into an establishment and ask for directions or help when entering a business. The thought of going into a bank and asking the teller for change, or into a restaurant to say, “table for 3, please” sends many of them into an absolute shake-fest; a frenzy they cannot compute.
Stage fright
Many develop an unusual phobia if required to have a face-to-face conversation that does not take place on Facetime or WhatsApp. Teenagers have it bad. No really–teenager’s struggle with any type of one-to-one communication. Of course, they struggle because nothing in our society says they shouldn’t. Everything they own either plugs in or lights up! Why should they need to go into a bank anyway? Most have online banking in which money can be transferred at the touch of a button. As far as restaurants go, take-out can be ordered online with a quick pick-up, and food can be delivered without even speaking to a single soul. There are even gas stations where food orders can be placed while pumping gas into the car.
The lucky shirt
We simply cannot understand their frustration and anxiety. I don’t even think they can explain it. What do they have to compare it too anyway? Nothing! Nada! Zilch! Our children did not grow up learning to have meaningful conversations and discord. Short of giving our kidlet’s a “lucky shirt,” so they are able to speak with someone in the flesh, there is most likely nothing we can do about it. Our kids today just don’t want to talk to each other–or maybe emotionally, they simply can’t. Texting each other from across the room seems to be much more interesting, albeit for me, quite amusing.
Another blunder
This is partly our fault. We first taught our babies how to talk and say, “hello.” Then, somewhere around third grade we handed them a cellphone or some type of an electronic device to keep them quiet. Kids in kindergarten have their own personal communication devices now and have become very proficient on social media. It’s true. I say partly our fault because we were the ones who bought the dang things in the first place then dangled them in front of their eyes. We did our due diligence and made sure everyone we knew understood how much we paid for the device–an obvious blunder in the “mom’s club.” Just like a buffet where our eyes are bigger than our stomachs, we fell into the hype and justified the need for our kids to have a phone in the first place. There is simply no reason for them now to talk to anyone. Just another thing to blame on bad parenting.
No, I am speaking of dialogue; meaningful conversations which allow for self-advocacy and the advancement of their social skills.
Thankless effort
Let’s face it, this is true for parents as well. Just about everything we want to do might be accomplished online. We don’t even need to leave our house to sign legal papers anymore. Parents dream about cuting the “leash” and the idea sticks with us everyday. So, what argument do we have to enforce autonomy? For that matter, what incentive or other opportunity do we have to encourage responsibility? There is no longer any reason to teach these kids how to go into a business and ask for service or assistance.
Maybe one day, when they are due for a cellular upgrade, they will garner enough spirit to walk into a phone store and ask for one!
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