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Are youngsters these days scared of having fun?

(70 Posts)
jinglbellsfrocks Thu 09-Jun-16 16:57:30

This is a thread about present day children and young people. Shall we stick to the subject?

gettingonabit Thu 09-Jun-16 16:55:37

jinglbellsfrocks my auntie had dementia, and was living in a care home. Her weekly outing with me to the local Carvery for her whisky and lemon and a bit of a smoke was indeed her only pleasure.

Just sayin'...

jinglbellsfrocks Thu 09-Jun-16 16:54:05

What have I said now? confused

Apologies to aunty if that's what upsetting anybody.

The rest is my view.

Jenty61 Thu 09-Jun-16 16:53:44

Ana ...why should we have to put up with it! it just makes the site very unpleasant!

Ana Thu 09-Jun-16 16:53:02

(meant to add nor would we want her to (change).

Ana Thu 09-Jun-16 16:51:29

That's the way she is and most of us have got used to it. Can't see her changing anytime soon...hmm

Buildagran, just be thankful that the 22 year old isn't on remand for some 'risky behaviour' and the other two don't appear likely to follow suit! grin

jinglbellsfrocks Thu 09-Jun-16 16:49:24

Rubbish! hmm

Jenty61 Thu 09-Jun-16 16:48:30

jinglbellsfrocks I do wish you would think before you post!!! some of your comments are really harsh and unwarranted! You seem hellbent in upsetting posters!

jinglbellsfrocks Thu 09-Jun-16 16:43:18

Let's all be sad that schools these days can be enjoyable places for children. That parenting is more enlightened than it was in the forties and fifties. And the rules are sensible, well thought out, necessary ones.

hmm

jinglbellsfrocks Thu 09-Jun-16 16:39:43

"A glass of whisky and a fag" only pleasures?!!!

Says more about aunty than any child. hmm

joannapiano Thu 09-Jun-16 16:39:06

At 15, in the 60's, I was going into pubs in North London and drinking vodka and lime. I think my teenage DGC and their friends are much more sensible than I ever was. I found my" own entertainment" alright, and it was quite risky.

jinglbellsfrocks Thu 09-Jun-16 16:38:19

For goodness sake! The poor kids can't win! hmm

I should hope a seven year old would have the sense to tell an adult not to smoke in a car he was in!

jinglbellsfrocks Thu 09-Jun-16 16:35:00

I don't think you can lump all kids together. One of my two GSs does have to be screen-rationed. The other, more physically active one, has no interest in playing in games on a device. Depends on the individual child.

gettingonabit Thu 09-Jun-16 16:34:12

I've noticed this too. I think youngsters are much nicer than I used to be, but rather...worthy.

Even at age 7, dd was telling my Auntie not to smoke in the car, please. A glass of whisky and a fag were Auntie's only pleasures, poor dab.

Youngsters seem so wise, but somehow so old. They don't seem to want to rebel...perhaps they have too much, too young.

Thinking about it, I rebelled against the status quo; strict parenting, strict schooling, tough rules. So we smoked because we weren't allowed, bunked because it was against the rules, and got up to all sorts in the bushes with unsuitable boys because we feared the consequences. There was a sense of excitement about it all.

Maybe there's nothing to rebel against any more sad.

Jenty61 Thu 09-Jun-16 16:25:09

sadly we now live in the age of technology and kids dont want to do anything but playing on their ipads..phones ...games consoles etc...years ago we found our own entertainment it is quite sad because kids really dont know what their missing ...

Juliette Thu 09-Jun-16 15:23:46

Be careful what you wish for buildagran smile

jinglbellsfrocks Thu 09-Jun-16 15:19:20

I think it's down to parents to be involved in outside activities so that the kids become involved too. Things like church and youth clubs, if the parents don't set an example, what have the kids got to follow?

jinglbellsfrocks Thu 09-Jun-16 15:14:46

They "live a little" in a different way these days.

My two (10 and 14) are very taken up with Cubs/Explorer Scouts. The older one has almost reached Olympic possibilities in trampolining. And goes off for miles on his skateboard.The younger one plays the piano and the bass guitar. And, yes, the younger one enjoys his games on the thing I bought him but can't now remember the name of. hmm

I think those kind of activities are much preferable to sneaking out and misbehaving!

And there are friendships a-plenty.

petitpois Thu 09-Jun-16 14:28:30

Oh I completely agree, buildagran. My nephew is very similar. Head down on his phone all the time. Goes out rarely and only to work related dos and he's always home before midnight. I quite like having a silly story up my sleeve to remind myself that I am a person who knows knew how to party!

buildagran Thu 09-Jun-16 14:19:23

My dgds are 14 and 17 and my grandson 22. When I was that age, and indeed when my daughters were that age, we were hellraisers! Sneaking out, going places we shouldn't, generally misbehaving, having fun and forging lifelong friendships along the way. For the most part my parents turned a blind eye as did I when my daughters were up to mischief that wasn't putting them in danger.

I feel that my grandchildren are so removed from all this. My grandson plays games online. My granddaughters see friends occasionally but so much of their interaction seems to be online. My daughters are equally perplexed by their own children...
But chatting to friends this seems to be quite normal these days. Not that I want to promote alcohol, I know all to well the harm it can do, but the 17 yr old won't touch the stuff as she wants to be 'in control' at all times (just using this as an example). I want to shake them and say 'live a little!'