Times Are Changing, and are we ready ?

The world we live in is fast paced. People live to the max. Spend all they have as if there is no tomorrow. The news is full of sad stories of people with wants so much greater than what they could afford, buying simply because they wanted to. Not many have been trained in restraint, in modesty of living. On 60 Minutes the other night, they had a segment on "The "Millennials" Are Coming". I had never heard the term before. It was new to me and what they said about them, was hard to hear. The new generation raised in such a way, that they just don't seem able to deal with some of the harsher realities of life, such as, "Life isn't always fair". "Life isn't always easy." And, "You don't always get your way". Those are truisms for all mankind, in every generation. On the segment, there was this to say about this new generation..."They are called, among other things, "millennials." There are about 80 million of them, born between 1980 and 1995, and they're rapidly taking over from the baby boomers who are now pushing 60. They were raised by doting parents who told them they are special, played in little leagues with no winners or losers, or all winners. They are laden with trophies just for participating and they think your business-as-usual ethic is for the birds. And if you persist in the belief you can, take your job and shove it. ...What are some of the do's and don'ts in speaking to the generation of young workers? "You do have to speak to them a little bit like a therapist on television might speak to a patient," Salzman says, laughing. "You can't be harsh. You cannot tell them you're disappointed in them. You can't really ask them to live and breathe the company. Because they're living and breathing themselves and that keeps them very busy."
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What will happen to people of any age with this kind of mentality, when you can't just go hop in the car and go where you want to because fuel costs are so high ? Or have a house with more bedrooms than people ? Or buy the newest television or cell phone ? Food costs keep rising so more people are planting gardens but finding out its just really hard work and they need everyone in the family to help. They are going to have to make their children put down the video games and pull some weeds, but did they train them to be willing to help the family ? What happens when parents cannot sign their children up for 4 different extra curricular activities because the gas is just too expensive to drive them all these places ? Can the children handle it, can the parents handle having their children around them all afternoon ? What happens when these "Millennials" have to make a choice of a new gadget or paying rent or buying food ? If you are all into getting what you want, rent is not really fun to pay.
I think many of my generation did our children a disservice by giving them everything they wanted and sheltering them from some of the less positive aspects of life.
I can't help but wonder if life as we know it now will have to change dramatically with the rising costs of things we just took for granted. Maybe we will have to go back to things like playing games in the parlor, visiting friends on the front porch in summer. Children might learn to do things like pulling taffy and playing outside. Having a back yard that functions as more than just pretty to look at, that we grow a garden to eat from. Maybe its time now to bring in some good soil or build up what you have and plant a few things.
Save fuel and hang your clothes up instead of using a clothes dryer. Even simple things like mixing by hand instead of plugging in the mixer, saves on electricity and keeps those arm muscles healthy ! Drive to town just once a week, combine trips. Plan carefully. Be realistic and forgo the fancy markets 50 miles from home and buy local. Maybe now is the time to explain to children and grandchildren that you can't have everything you want. Have them understand the word "no" is not connected with how much you love them or in their minds, don't love them. And maybe even some wives need a few lessons in that. We want, and when we don't get, we pout and we act spoiled and we teach our children well !