How Parents Must Deal With Teenage Problems
“Generation gap” is one of the very common words we grow up hearing.. Whenever I had a difference of opinion with my parents or my grandparents, they used to complain that it is the outcome of generation gap.
From grandparents to our parents, then we all and to our offsprings this distinct demarcation of each stage and its specific views, outlook, tastes and their differences with each generation is termed as ‘generation gap’.As we grow up we develop our own points of view on every topic by and large.
This leads to differences, arguments and discomfort within the family. The lack of understanding that prevailed in between the parents and grandparents gets passed on to the next generation as well, leading to similar or different sorts of differences between the next generation.
When on one hand it is said that home is the first school in a person’s life, the same house, in the later stages of life becomes hell and unbearable. It is not always that the parents are at the right side and the children are always wrong. Or to see the other way, parents are all fools and the children are too clever. There are some subjects and topics where experience always counts and practical knowledge is best.
On the other end of the rope, today’s generation holds a concrete knowledge on certain subjects that are related to newly discovered gadgets or usage of an I-pod or an android phone in general. Thus when an argument starts it continues on, without ending up in a logical conclusion. For instance, parents often thrust their aspired career choice on their children, showing all the positive sides of it, all the potentials, monetary base and future prospects that hold for their son or daughter.
But the situation is often very difficult to comply with for the son or the daughter, who might not have the slightest interest in that subject in spite of how lucrative its prospects might be. Similarly, a girl who is almost at her thirties and still unmarried has to face dire consequences in front of her parents due to her decision of improving her financial future and career prospects.
While her idea of “settling down in life” might mean securing her professional career first, her parent’s idea of the same term “settling down” may mean marrying off timely, having kids and maintaining a full fledged family. Instances where parents are often right but the young generation argues are when the parents object to late night parties, being conscious about their security and safety. The young generation would have a lot of explanations to furnish that they are doing it right.
It is totally foolish to stay in the same family and quarrel on every petty issue without coming to an amicable solution. This will only widen the gap between the relations and be a hard blow on the mutual trust and love. Family can only be successful in true sense when everybody living in the house is happy and closely connected to each other.
There is no point in considering that bonding up the gap is futile and you are satisfied living in that disturbed situation. Hence, minimizing the generation gap is a two way effort. So when the parents are living with the young children or adolescent generations it is very crucial to take two way steps to maintain peace in family as well as give space to each other.
In case if you are parents try to understand the mind of your children. Be their friend and not their dictator. Try to understand what they are thinking on a particular topic or matter. Show them patiently and very calmly the good and bad of a particular matter.
In case you are in the “new generation” group, try to be easy with your parents. Do not be argumentative in case of any discussion. Wait for things to calm down and then gently try to make your logical explanations on that topic. If you think the day is not right one, wait for a few more days, maybe a month, if the case is so serious. But you will see time calms them anyways.
In case you are parent, do not be over inquisitive in whatever your children, the “young generation” does. Keep your restriction on them, but do not interfere in every personal matter they have.
In case you are “young generation”, try to make them a party in some of your plan. Judiciously judge the ones they will also be comfortable to be a part of, such as a weekend picnic, a music concert, a shopping plan or a movie.
In case you are parents, try to include the young generation in some decision makings as well, such as while buying a new television set for your home, or appointing a new gardener. This way they will fell that they are valued too in the home and will cease to be individualistic and argumentative always.
Handling Generation Gap
In case you are parents, make your children aware of the norms and the restrictions of your house. Also make them understand the values you think appropriate. But never be authoritative or dominating while making them knowledgeable of all these. Be friendly enough to show them your justification in favor of your ideals.
In case you are “young generation” once in a while, appreciate any of your parents for something you consider worth of it. Never be miser in praising them as this makes them feel that you value them.
In case you are parents, arrange for your children’s friends “surprise” get together, which they will always love and consider you as friend than a foe. Also allow your children to “break the rules” once in a while without being very violent towards them. But do not let loose completely. There should be a mild restriction in such situations.
In case you are “young generation” welcome your parent’s advices and ideas once in a while in your decision-makings too. It might even be in some cases where their suggestion is absolutely not needed. Not even is it mandatory to abide by what they say. But this very gesture of asking them would make them feel their decisions are valued too.
It might even be in some cases where there suggestion is absolutely not needed
