The Generation Gap

How many times have you felt that your parents don't understand you, that they have no respect for you as an individual? How often do you shake your head in frustration and blame it on the 'generation gap'? But this is wrong. Parents are under a lot of stress, too. When we are worrying about our upcoming Math exam, they are worrying about the bills to pay, and just how they are going to pay for our braces or school.

Yes, parents are human too. They may have dreams they've sacrificed because they want you to realize yours. Once you step into their shoes and try to look at things from their point of view, two wonderful things happen; one, you feel a new respect for them, and two, you will find that you can actually get your own way without heated arguments.

The gap between the old people and the young is called the generation gap. It is the difference in the attitude, priorities, and views among generations. As to the different attitude of life, the people belonging to the old generation always wonder what has gone wrong with the new generation. They feel that during their time, young boys and girls were better behaved and had greater respect for elders. Young people, on the other hand, feel that they are capable enough to learn on their own rather than being spoon-fed by their elders.

This generation gap has always been there but these days it has reached to an explosive stage. The values and patterns of life have changed to a great extent. Today, everybody likes to live and behave in his own way. The elders look after the children. Naturally, they feel they have a right over them. But the children, when they grow up, want a complete freedom in their thoughts and actions but their thoughts and actions are just opposite to those expected. They revolt when any kind of restrictions are imposed on them. Consequently, the family breaks up and everything gets ruined.

In Jamaica, we are yet in the initial stages, but the gap has appeared and it is going to grow bigger day by day with technology playing a great part. So it is not only the responsibility of the younger but also of the elders to fill this gap with their love,