Spring Break!

By: Asma Shmas
After the cold winter, spring break is welcomed by all children and most parents. There are the obvious issues of the large workforce taking vacation days at almost the same time. The difficulty is multiplied by a lot more for single and nuclear parents. With this precious time ahead of us, it is important to keep an open mind with our collegues and friends with different family systems.
Family Pains
The difficulties we face with vacation times reminds us of the old system where children were looked after by the elders of the family on a daily basis. Marriages were decided by elders who created suitors to ensure that family relationships would be strengthened and social backgrounds match creating the least amount of friction and maximum fluidity moving forward. The new additions and veteran family members were all living under one roof and managing chores together including the children and their needs. The expenses were usually shared which helped reduce a certain amount of stress that is prevalent in a large majorities homes. All occasions were celebrated together including birthdays, anniversaries, accomplishments, and also failures. It sounds like a dream come true for most us struggling to make payments on our growing credit card bills, daycare costs, and the tiredness from working jobs we sometimes do not wish to be involved with if given a choice. It seems that now we are on our own.
It often seems that most of us are broken, struggling, and exhausted from our daily lives. Parents are working on their own in positions they do not enjoy. Children are growing up in daycares, it seems, on their own. Sometimes, children cannot adapt to this dynamic and sometimes it’s the parents and their relatives who cannot. More often than not, it seems that our children over generations prefer to be in the company of smart phones rather than their family. Who or rather what is responsible?
As technology progresses, our lifestyle and work ethic has changed along with how learn and deal with situations. Take this opportunity to communicate with your children and family in ways that they understand and listen today. The same technology can be used to learn and unwind together. Video games and educational applications have become advanced to engage its users of all ages. Learn a language together, build something together, or simply unwind and laugh at programs together.
Generational Gap
The general gap is eternal. We faced it with our parents, grandparents, our own children and our grandchildren. It is one of life’s only eternal truth and constant. By the time we understand our children, they will be at an age that they understand us. And by the time they understand their children, we’ll be long gone. The years in between is what we need to work on conquering.
There is always a lack of understanding on all parties in this issue. There are issues such as intolerance, stubbornness, selfishness, greed, peer pressure, and always the problems with money. Before we blame our parents, we should remember it is a generational gap and both generations are at fault. Family is the most important aspect of our life. It is what makes all those negatives worth the pain and suffering. It is the base of our society and many cultures which has survived countless generational gaps. Lets be the change in our generation to understand our young members and treat our elders with respect and kindness. Let’s keep an open mind and agree to be patient in understand where they come from so that we progress to a better future.
Info: Asma Shums <asmashums@gmail.com