Every day on my way to drop my kids off at school, I pass by the neighborhood bus stop. There are usually 8 to 10 kids standing around. Some of them are talking to each other, but most of them just stand there with this vacant, "No One's Home" look on their faces. Do they not know what is about to happen? Perhaps... a bus will come and pick them up for SCHOOL?
Why the indifference?
Maybe it is because they have a million other things going on in that little brain of their's. If they aren't staring off into space breathing through their mouths, they are texting or talking on their cellphones. Why does a 13 year old need a cellphone? Why incur the expense of another phone line and texting? I don't get it. ( I reserve the right to harp on these parents now and make the exact same mistake in about 5 years with my own tween. But for now I will judge them mercilessly.)
Others are listening to their I-Pod with a gazillion songs they've no doubt stolen from the artist on-line with lyrics that would make my grandmother spin like a top in her grave.
One couple I have seen on numerous occassions awkwardly swapping spit between their pimply faces. Ah, young love. (Maybe I'm just jealous!)
Then there is the kid with the perfectly coiffed hair and brand new clothes that is so concerned with his outer appearance that he can't keep eye contact with the kid whose pants are barely hanging onto his bean pole body. The pretty boy is too concerned with his 17th pair of new shoes to hold a conversation and the kid whose clothes are barely hanging on doesn't want to talk anyway, because he can't hear over the complex musings of Lil' Wayne blaring through earphones as big as his head. He has one hand on his I-Pod and the other holding his pants up.
All of these things that I observe are just phases or trial periods for each kid. They have no idea who they are and they are taking on different roles and trying them out. I have seen those kids change looks like I change underwear. Nonetheless, they all have one thing in common.
Stupidity.
I'm not being harsh. It is apparently a rule among teenage children. You must be stupid to fit in.
For example, it would be absolutely assanine to wear a coat when it is cold. It may not go with your new tennis shoes or it might hender you from pressing your body inappropriately to your girlfriend in front of your peers or you might not be able to reach your pants to keep them from falling down and Lord knows that you could never wear pants that fit you properly. Are you kidding? That's crazy. Social suicide.
If you got up extra early and wasted time, sanity and product on your hair, what sense would it make to carry an umbrella? Absolutely none. That would be stupid. To remain dry on a rainy day and get to school in the same state that you left the house in would be ridiculous. Why would you want to tie yourself down with an umbrella when you could just shiver and drip-dry for the first two hours of school causing you to smell like a wet dog? Stupid.
Do you understand that this is the future of our nation? The kid with his pants hanging off his ass who is slowly trying to take away God's gift of hearing may have a 4.0 GPA, but if he is not smart enough to stay dry when it rains and warm when it's cold, I've got no faith in him.
They should teach a course on common sense. We could all use it. Stupidity starts at a very early age.
Why the indifference?
Maybe it is because they have a million other things going on in that little brain of their's. If they aren't staring off into space breathing through their mouths, they are texting or talking on their cellphones. Why does a 13 year old need a cellphone? Why incur the expense of another phone line and texting? I don't get it. ( I reserve the right to harp on these parents now and make the exact same mistake in about 5 years with my own tween. But for now I will judge them mercilessly.)
Others are listening to their I-Pod with a gazillion songs they've no doubt stolen from the artist on-line with lyrics that would make my grandmother spin like a top in her grave.
One couple I have seen on numerous occassions awkwardly swapping spit between their pimply faces. Ah, young love. (Maybe I'm just jealous!)
Then there is the kid with the perfectly coiffed hair and brand new clothes that is so concerned with his outer appearance that he can't keep eye contact with the kid whose pants are barely hanging onto his bean pole body. The pretty boy is too concerned with his 17th pair of new shoes to hold a conversation and the kid whose clothes are barely hanging on doesn't want to talk anyway, because he can't hear over the complex musings of Lil' Wayne blaring through earphones as big as his head. He has one hand on his I-Pod and the other holding his pants up.
All of these things that I observe are just phases or trial periods for each kid. They have no idea who they are and they are taking on different roles and trying them out. I have seen those kids change looks like I change underwear. Nonetheless, they all have one thing in common.
Stupidity.
I'm not being harsh. It is apparently a rule among teenage children. You must be stupid to fit in.
For example, it would be absolutely assanine to wear a coat when it is cold. It may not go with your new tennis shoes or it might hender you from pressing your body inappropriately to your girlfriend in front of your peers or you might not be able to reach your pants to keep them from falling down and Lord knows that you could never wear pants that fit you properly. Are you kidding? That's crazy. Social suicide.
If you got up extra early and wasted time, sanity and product on your hair, what sense would it make to carry an umbrella? Absolutely none. That would be stupid. To remain dry on a rainy day and get to school in the same state that you left the house in would be ridiculous. Why would you want to tie yourself down with an umbrella when you could just shiver and drip-dry for the first two hours of school causing you to smell like a wet dog? Stupid.
Do you understand that this is the future of our nation? The kid with his pants hanging off his ass who is slowly trying to take away God's gift of hearing may have a 4.0 GPA, but if he is not smart enough to stay dry when it rains and warm when it's cold, I've got no faith in him.
They should teach a course on common sense. We could all use it. Stupidity starts at a very early age.
AHHH..youth! I went through a stage of wearing my pants backwards...inspired by Kriss Kross. I used to wear Michael Jordan attire b/c I loved him! I loved rap music, then switched my freshman year to grunge attire. I wore hand me down mechanic shirts with ratty old courdoroys that year I also got suspended from school. Then I learned that boys weren't interested in me when I looked that way. So then I started caring what I looked like. You are right, none of us know who we are when we are that young. Have faith that they will figure it out one day!
ReplyDeleteIn my day...youth weren't like that! We dressed appropriately (well, we invented the mini-skirt and the next year the maxi.) We wore knee-high boots on 3" platforms (white patent leather with laces up the front too.) We listen to the greatest music - Kansas, KISS, The Osmonds, the Carpenters, Tony DeFranko (don't ask). You youngsters should learn from us!
ReplyDeleteI actually drive through the same neighborhood in the morning, but I see a whole different group of kids. Every morning I watch the cute, well-coiffed girls with the designer handbags ostracize the one overweight goth boy. I just want to pull up, roll down my window and say, "One day, they will all realize that this is it for them. The best part of their life was squandered being mean in high school. And you'll still be looking forward to the best part of yours." But I don't.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I wore a coat when it was cold, but I still refuse to carry an umbrella. It's water, for the love of God. Unless you are made of sugar or are a witch I don't get being scared of it.