The Grownups They’ll Become

My aunt, Sandy Pattan and I were talking about the things the current generation does that we and especially our parents (hers being my grandparents) would never even consider doing. Being a child of the 60s, I was less shocked by things that really shocked her. She would never consider a tattoo, and while I don’t have one either, my children and grandchildren do, and so do some of hers. Tattoos don’t bother me these days. Sure, people might expect me to gripe about the styles, attitudes, or something along those lines that is the current generation, and while I admit those things can be irritating at times, that’s not where my mind is tonight. What struck me is the simple reality that one day we’ll be handing the baton over to the current generation. Many people cringe at the thought, and when I see some of the kids around, I sometimes feel the same way. But we can’t judge them based on who they are today, because once responsibility hits, they’ll change in an instant…just like we did. No adult can honestly claim that their parents approved of everything about them…the clothes they wore, their hair, the music they loved, or the friends they kept. Sure, some things might have been acceptable, but not all. And what parent hasn’t sighed or scowled when talking about the so-called next generation?

Just as we were once the dreaded next generation and eventually became today’s establishment, they too will become the establishment of tomorrow. They’ll look at their children and friends as the next generation and hope that, just as they grew into responsible adults, their kids will follow the same path. And they will cringe at the things their kids see as normal and cool.

Like us, most kids will grow into responsible adults if we instill in them the values we were taught, along with love and respect for their feelings. With that foundation, they can blossom into people we’re proud of. Kids seek approval from someone, so while you don’t need to pretend to love their clothes, hair, music, or attitude, it’s important to praise them when they truly earn it. Without positive reinforcement, they may act out just to get attention. We can’t be absent from their childhood and still expect them to become great adults. Loving, encouraging, and keeping them in our prayers is the most important thing we can do for them…and for the grownups they will become.