Why do parents think they could handle being kids today?

Question

K, I know that I'm going a little "Freaky Friday" on you guys, but why do parents always think they would, like, rule the world if they took a place in their child's shoes?! They don't know a thing about how life is, and then when you tell them that, they go all... "One day your children will say the exact same thing to you, and you'll laugh and I'll say 'I told you so!'"

Answer 1

I think that each generations expierences are so different. Our parents were the ones that didnt carry cell phones, walked everywhere, for fun they didnt hang out at clubs. I think that we all experience the feeling that our life is harder, and I am sure it is true. I think that each year it gets harder and harder to live in this society. For instince, my parents like probably 90% of all parents out there want me to marry a guy of my own race. White, Black, Puerto Rican, Asian. All races are like that. I personally see so many biracial relationships now it is pretty common. I would have no problem dating or marrying out of my race. It has to do with our generation. In our parents time, that was practically unheard of. I think that times have changes, and parents are just oblivious to the fact that they had to deal with stuff, but the stuff we have to deal with is 10 times harder.

Answer 2

How can you say that parents don't know a thing about how life is. They have been alive alot longer than you have. Every generation goes through the same turmoil. The only difference is the technology. I think it's funny that the younger generation always thinks they are the first ones to have to deal with anything. I don't have kids, so this is the viewpoint of a neutral observer, an outsider lookin in. I heard the same stories from my grandparents, then my parents, then my brothers and sisters, then my neices and nephews, and I expect to see it from their kids too if I live long enough. Everybody has to walk to school barefoot in the snow uphill both ways. Your parents don't think they could rule the world if they took your place. They are just seeing themselves again, in you, and wishing they knew then what they know now.

Answer 3

And what exactly is so new today that wasn't around 20-30 years ago? Drugs? we had that too. Violence? Yup it was there, and plenty of it. Peer pressure? Try again. Terrorists? Yeah even that, only they weren't called terrorists.

We don't know how life is? That is ridiculous, if anything it's kids that don't know how life is. Try paying rent, utilities, car payments, insurance, medical bills, cell phone bills, clothes, food, & entertainment. Try worrying about kids, pregnancy, injuries and a whole list of things that I can't even think of right now.

Try thinking thing through before you say something, every parent was once a teenager, we know everything there is to know about it, not because we read it in a book. It's because we lived through it and made it to the other side. Not listening to your elders is like trying to find a place you've never been without a map... not very smart.

Answer 4

As a parent, I think its partly wishful thinking... its always easier to see a solution for someone else than it is for yourself. And parents really want the very best for their children, so they want to solve the problems and fix everything. Also, there really is a lot to be said for life-experience and how it gives you perspective. That said, of course life today is different from how it was for parents. They don't know exactly what you are going through. But they probably have a pretty good idea of how what you are going through will fit into the rest of your life, even if they are not able to truely empathize with your feelings at the moment.
My advice would be to listen to what they are saying with the understanding that they do have a unique perspective, and that they totally love you, and that you also have a unique perspective and hopefully love and respect yourself, and then hey, at least you can agree on how great you are :)

Answer 5

The bed wetting might suggest there is some bigger emotional problem she is suffering from. Everything else sounds like normal teenager stuff, but when you toss in the bed wetting, I think there might be more to it. I would suggest getting some therapy. This problem was not caused by you (although there may be things you can do or change to help the problem get better or make the problem worse), and probably will not be solved by changing her living situation again and just handing her off to someone else. Work with her, with the help of a professional, and try to involve her father as well. She will most likely need the love and support of all her family. Good luck!

Answer 6

Why do kids think they could handle being kids when their parents were young? I was a teenager once and knew so much more than my parents ever would, they didn't have a clue how hard is was to be me and they never understood me... now that i'm an adult and don't know it all, I will be raising my kids exactly the same way I was even though they will know it all already!

Answer 7

Because it's true. Now that I have my own teenager, I have told my mom that I now understand what she was trying to tell me when I was that age. I've also apologized to her several times for putting her through the cr*ap I put her through when I was young! It's the same way with every generation and will never change. Though, each generation has their own special challenges, the generation just prior to yours is very similar - believe me, your parents understand what you are going through. They have been there and done that. You will have to wait to have your own kids to understand - just like everyone else.

Answer 8

I am a mother of 3 and I would never even want to walk in my childrens shoes these days and they know it! But parents say that to their children because our parents did it to us and yes you will do it to your kids. By the time you have your own kids you will have grown up more and figured a lot of things out and try to help your kids and they will look at you the same way you're looking at your parents. It's a pattern that is inevitable no matter how hard you try to fight it. Sorry. But when you're a parent it's kind of funny because you see yourself in your kids.

Answer 9

I don't feel I could handle being a kid today at all!
That is why I try real hard to listen to my daughter and yet, guide her.
What your parents need to understand is that things are faster and harder, (unfortunately) than what they were back when, but at the same time, what you need to understand is that is was easier being a parent back then too...

Answer 10

that phrase is right you know. we say that to kids because it's true. we all went through that okay. we were all kids at one time and we did bad things. we tell you that because now we're adults, we've been through a lot of growing. If we can handle this adult life, we could defiantly handle an adolescents!