Young people are so lovely these days

M0nica

I am reminded of the nursery rhyme

There was a a little girl, who had a little curl
right in the middle of her forehead
and when she was good, she was very very good
and when she was bad she was .

I think that the fear and respect that kept young people away from older people in the past has gone and each can be as spontaneous and loving with each other without feeling awkward.

Unfortunately I think, for those for whom it goes wrong, there are many more of them than in the past and some of their behaviours are far more violent and malevolent than in the past.

It’s a poem by Henry Wadswoth Longfellow. There have always been good and bad and always will be I guess. Most youngsters are helpful but are more outgoing and therefore more likely to come forward and offer help these days

I learned a lesson a few years ago when I employed a young tiler recommended by a friend. He turned up with a shaven head, nose ring and tattoos on both arms. He was an excellent worker and extremely polite. I will never again judge a book by its cover.

My first experience of pleasant youngsters was in France.
Walking down our village street and seeing a group of rowdy teenagers approaching I was ready for hostility .
However, when they got closer they moved apart for me to pass them, smiled and greeted me with a really friendly ‘bonsoir’.
I was quite taken aback.
A reminder not to judge by appearances.

That is so good to read Luckygirl3. I am seeing similar. When I’m out and about the young men wait for me to go before them. I say you go I’m too slow!
I’m use a stick too! Wonderful isn’t it. I don’t see my own family that often but the young people today who I meet are such a pleasure. 💐

I agree. I have always been impressed with how my son's friends engaged with us but more importantly, how much they looked after each other whilst they were out partying. I used to worry about my son't alcohol consumption and one of his friends would message me to reassure me that they were on their way home and all was well.
My older son hugs me in front of his friends, hugs his friends and tells his friends he loves them quite openly. It isn't just something he says, he really means it. When he was younger and had a moment when he didn't want to hug me, I pointed out that his Dad still hugged his Mum. He threw his arms around me and said, "If it is good enough for my Dad, it is good enough for me!"
My grandsons are too young to be anything other than loving but time will tell! However, as their Dads are huggers, I suspect they will be too.

Yes I agree. I love to be around young people, they’re so full of life.

Luckygirl3

I remember when I was a teenager the presence of my parents when out with younger people was a source of deep embarrassment - let alone a grandparent!

I have just been to another gig where two of my teenage grandsons were playing in a jazz fusion band - they are both very talented instrumentalists and I go to as many of their gigs as I can.

I walked in and they detached themselves from the group of young people they were chatting with, came over and gave me a hug and said it was good to have me there. I noticed other band members doing the same with their relatives.

At the door the girls taking the ticket money were so polite and helpful, and when I left early I was waiting by the door for my DD in her car and one of the girls came up to make sure I was OK and went out and looked out for my DD's car and then said "Go carefully; and thank you for coming!

I have noticed this a lot recently - there they all are with their crazy tattoos and hair, and wild clothing - and there I am with my stick - and they are all just so kind and welcoming.

It is such a joy and really isn't at all how it was when I was young. Something to be happy about I think ...;.

A lovely post !

What a lovely upbeat and heartening post Lickygirl3. Thank you.

Last Friday, late afternoon, I took the bus from Flensburg to the Danish border, as it is the bus that brings me nearest to my home.

By the time we were about ten minutes away from the Danish border, there was only the bus driver, a colleague of his, who was on the way home after his shift, and myself in the bus.

Between two bus stops the driver braked, opened the front door, and asked an elderly lady walking past using her rollator, if she wanted to take the bus. She said no thanks, as that would mean going all the way up to the border, and it was awkward getting herself and her rollator onto and off the bus.

Out jumps that young man, who was not driving, as says, "oh come on, I'll help you on and off, that jacket you have on, doesn't look warm enough to me." She agreed and he helped her to a seat in the bus, lifted her rollator in, secured it, and said to the driver, "You can drive on now."

The driver turned to me and said, "I'll just make a little diversion, so Anna-Maria gets all the way home." and drove down to the sheltered accommodation, where his friend help the lady, I now know is Anna-Maria off and right up to her front door.

Then we took the usual route up to the border, where I got off.

I thought it was so kind of them both. I don't know what the bus company might think, but I am certainly not going to tell them.

My GD1 who is 20 was quite a petulant teen but around 18 she began to change. She is an absolutely delightful girl now. We don’t see her very often as she’s at Newcastle Uni but as she’s home we will see her sometime over Easter.

I think young people are lovely. I managed to corner a you g man on black hoodie and mask on an unlicenced motorcycle recently, told him to take care of himself and wear a helmet! He was very polite and said yes, that's what his. Mum said too.

What lovely things to read…I am so fed up with all the young/teenage bashing. On the whole I do so fully agree

M0nica

I am reminded of the nursery rhyme

There was a a little girl, who had a little curl
right in the middle of her forehead
and when she was good, she was very very good
and when she was bad she was .

I think that the fear and respect that kept young people away from older people in the past has gone and each can be as spontaneous and loving with each other without feeling awkward.

Unfortunately I think, for those for whom it goes wrong, there are many more of them than in the past and some of their behaviours are far more violent and malevolent than in the past.

Well said 👍😻

Three of my GPs were dead by the time I was 5, the last by 18. My parents were in their 40s when I was born, so I was more or less brought up by old people! There have always been lovely, considerate, polite young people. Sadly it's the others who claim attention by the media.

I agree absolutely, except the rhyme wasn't quite the same..

There was a little girl, who had a little curl,
Right in the middle of her "forrid",
When she was good she was very very good,
But when she was bad she was horrid.A.

Anyway, I am having a barn dance here in my retirement village, and my lovely London grandson, age 27 says he can't come but could he come to Milton Keynes earlier in the day to help set things up? That's so good, isn't it...

If anyone wants to know anything about living in a big retirement village, don't hesitate to message me.

I agree absolutely about charming, helpful young people.

I'm having a barn dance here in my big retirement village in Milton Keynes, and my London based grandson texted me to say that tho he can't make it in the evening, could he come in the day to help set things up? Isn't that lovely.

Incidentally, if anyone wants to know more about "villages" like mine, don't hesitate to message me...

I’m so, so pleased to hear you all saying this, I thought it was only my wonderful 14 year old granddaughter! 😉 She likes me to go to all sorts of things with her and is very happy introducing me to her friends. She said to me just now, “I was holding Grandad’s hand in Tesco” and what she really meant was she was looking after him!

What a wonderful post, OP! I agree - the young people I meet, for the most part, are kind and respectful. The teen girls are so poised compared to my own experience as an awkward, self conscious teen ( plus we were not well off which greatly matters.) The ones who aren’t respectful are struggling, and I think CoVid was hard on mental health for young folks. I’ve noticed though, more careful and kind attention everywhere since CoVid but maybe it’s because I’m glad to be alive, and very, very grateful for assistance, especially when offered cheerfully in public. Go Teens!

So good to read these posts.
My granddaughter is 21 and has always been happy to be seen with both sets of grandparents. We've attended school events in the past and spent lots of time with her, such a privilege.
She's recently asked if we can go on holiday together.

...except the ones going around stabbing others

That's an insult to what you think we were like when we were young. There are a lot of lovely young people yes, but a lot of horrible ones. We didn't have all the stabbings years ago for a start, and people on scooters snatching phones. I think the world is horrible now and I won't be sorry to leave it. I have two beautiful grandchildren of 4 and 11 and I worry so much about what kind of world they're growing up in.

Peaseblossom

That's an insult to what you think we were like when we were young. There are a lot of lovely young people yes, but a lot of horrible ones. We didn't have all the stabbings years ago for a start, and people on scooters snatching phones. I think the world is horrible now and I won't be sorry to leave it. I have two beautiful grandchildren of 4 and 11 and I worry so much about what kind of world they're growing up in.

All the stabbings? Knife crime is going down now, maybe too late for some but it definately getting better.
People on scooters snatching phones? I have no experience of this except hearing it is rife in London but when I go I see noe evidence for it.
Horrible things may be happening but in between we have had a long and settled period of relative peace compared to many places in the world.
The young people we talk about were similar to us growing up in the 60s hoping for an end to wars and give peace a chance etc etc.
This is such a positive thread I don't want to throw it off kilter. Life is tough for kids just now and they will be inheriting pretty much the mess we made for them...

Ah how lovely,but I know what you mean. I have 3 granddaughters ranging in age from 16-20 and they are all so kind loving and respectful when we are together whether that’s in or out.

Majority of young people are nice. That is nothing new,same in my day..It's always the few that give the rest a bad rep!.

There always has and always will be the good the bad and all those in between