On a Friday afternoon, usually during the last two periods of school, we are all tired and just not in the mood to do any school work. We try and finish the work as quickly as possible, so that we can have a class discussion before everyone is off for the weekend. I try and find a rather safe topic to discuss, just so that things don't go too overboard , but you know, once a teenager has the opportunity to speak their mind, there is no stopping them. I hardly get in a word, and I usually just throw in some random questions and then the discussion carries on.
Today, what started out as a normal discussion about the Ocean, ended up with Artificial intelligence. This usually happens, but I love the way these teenagers think and I feel that it is important for them just to have a chance to express their feelings and ideas. I am often amazed at how these teenagers think. These kids really have some great ideas, and most of them are excited about their futures. They are all on the brink of adulthood and ready to spread their wings to fly.
I often think about the time when I was a teenager. Oh the things we did for fun, yes, even the naughty things. We were so care-free and excited about life, but we lived in a much safer world. We visited friends for days, and our parents were not worried. They knew where we were. There were no cellphones, so there was no way to reach us....but we were never far, because we enjoyed being at home. Even though our parents were strict, and sometimes used corporal punishment, we still had manners and we were always considerate of others, because that is the way we were raised. During the eighties we were still able to go out in the evenings. We could even walk home safely afterwards.
Today is different. Kids today are not safe anymore. We are totally stuck in an unsafe world. Teenagers are exposed to drugs everywhere....and I am not talking about weed here. It is so sad that the world turned out this way. Even though we have the best technology, and our intellect is far more advanced that before, I often think of the way it was before, and what these kids are missing in their lives.
Sometimes I wish we could just turn back time, and perhaps I am just getting old, but I truly miss those care-free days! When we were young we just wanted to grow up, and we had such big expectations, but society turned out differently. It is a scary world out there!
Protect your children to the best of your abilities! Help them to have a care-free world again. Help them to be safe!
Do you miss your teenage years?