GENERATION GAP
On 28th Aug, 2015, our
helpline received a call saying that one college student had brought a girl to
the Gandhi Park and was sharing intimate moments there. The same youth had
brought another girl to the same spot on the previous day. While speaking with
them during the counselling session, we found that the boy was an adult and the
girl was an adolescent. It was surprising to find that they were meeting each
other for the first time. They connected and fell in love through facebook. The
girl had travelled hours to reach the place. The details went like this. The girl was chatting with him by using her mother’s
cell phone. She had saved his number on
the cell phone in the name of her classmate – another girl. So her parents never doubted anything and she
had spent hours chatting with her facebook lover from her mother’s phone. The
parents were very protective of her and she was being cheated by a man under
their very nose! There is a widening gap between parents and their children.
There are many causes why the generation
gap between parents and their children is formed. First of all, the greatest
difference perceived between the generations is the way of using technology.
Today the world is more advanced each day, as a result of the fast paced
development of the society. Parents do not even know many of the modern
technologies and equipments children use.
Second, a majority of parents spend too
little time communicating with and listening to their children, even though
they ‘love’ them very much. Notwithstanding, children do not share their school
life or other day-to-day events with their parents. Parents may not know what
their children are thinking about. Lack of time spent with children is a great
reason for the creating a gap and love is communicated through presence and
time spent with children.
Third, parents may have absolute control
over their children. They want their children to have more advantages and
opportunities. Thus, children may not have complete freedom in the choice of
those leisure activities. As a result, children always believe that their
parents are against their opinions all the way. They try to keep everything
secretive and do not tell their parents when they encounter problems.
Fourth,
due to the traditional custom, most parents adopt a straight face and do not
show their feelings when they talk to their children. On the other hand, children
believe that they are grown-ups and it is high time for them to be independent.
On the whole, both parents and their children do not see things from the
standpoints of each other. Thus, misunderstanding is a great cause for the
formation of generation gap.
Bridging
the generation gap is essential. To tackle this problem, there are some ways by
which such gap can be bridged.
1.
Parents
need to gain adequate knowledge of the latest technologies that are used by
their children so that they can know beforehand possible dangers.
2.
Parents
and their children have to be aware of the importance of open communication and
parents need to take initiative for the same.
3.
Parents
should not have too high expectations. On the other hand, parents should know
what their children like the most.
4.
Parents
must not start a conversation by giving orders. Instead, they can begin by
discussing a topic that can hold their children’s interests. Become friends of
children.
5.
Never
let your children feel ashamed of the parents. Be role models.
6.
Parents
need make their children understand their limitations and define boundaries for
them.
7.
Relationship
between parents and kids is sensitive, hence dignity to be maintained to
preserve the love and emotions in the relationship.
8.
Teach
all you want to your children before they reach teenage and you will have a
bright and responsible youth.
Let us remember a merry family requires
lots of give-and-take, and it really needs the co-operation of all its members.
Accordingly, the generation gap between parents and their children can easily
be bridged.
