August First

Today is the first day of August, the eight month of the year. Many years ago our youngest brother, whose age I recall as being in the single digits threatened to run away on August 1. We had a long driveway, and I recall him getting to the top part of the driveway with a small suitcase, before returning home and asking: “Isn’t anyone going to come after me?” I don’t know what would have driven him to want to run away, as the youngest in the family it is not like he was under any great pressure. I think it is likely a fact of nature that when it comes to large families, the youngest is likely the most spoiled. Middle children on the other hand, while that is for another time. Of course, his decision to pronounce that he would run away on August 1, earned him the moniker, for a while anyway, of “August First.” I am not sure how long the nickname lasted, but it is in my memory; I am sure other family members may recall the story differently.

August means Sweet Corn...

We are from a big family, and with such a large number of children, there was a great deal of teasing and picking. I recall one other time when we had the youngest held down to the floor and were tickling him, he was screaming for help. Our Dad, in the other room without getting up to see what was going on yelled “Stop That!” to which our natural response was “Stop What?” and he exclaimed back “Torturing Peter!” The dynamic is different in smaller families, less children likely mean less being picked on by older siblings, and less interaction with varied siblings. In the world today, being picked on is often thought of as a form of abuse or bullying. Yet, it was not uncommon and I suspect helped us to develop a thicker skin. Has the move to smaller families made persons more sensitive? A poll done a few years ago showed that most persons think of millennials as selfish and entitled. Heck, even millennials self-reported as being selfish and entitled. Not all fit one group, but the millennials themselves 70% polled thought of themselves in that way.

...Butterflies...

Raised by helicopter parents, with some mother’s making Marie Barone look like Mrs. Mussolini, their sense of self-worth may have been pre-ordained. The Pediatric Association notes that bullying is down by over one-third of what it was 20 years ago. How they measure bullying I don’t know, but self-reporting is always dangerous. However, I suspect things we did forty-five years ago would not be considered acceptable behavior today. One song about millennials says that they have “an undeserved confidence” and which, it is explained, may be from getting a trophy for participating. That song can be found here. Showing the tender feelings of millennials one need do no more than read the message at lemonade magazine which can be found here, regarding that song. Can’t they take a spoof?   Is “The Onion” too much for them? The song by the way is written and performed by a person 33 years of age, a millennial!  Although you can see he wishes to be a generation X, by the way he wears a baseball cap, and his mannerisms of touching the cap. (Oh my, I am getting like lemonade magazine).  Do young adults today miss the nuance of friendly jab, or teasing, from true bullying?

...Garden Produce...

The coddling and over protected nature of some parents (think helicopter parents) certainly has had an effect on societal changes. I have noted in the past that in the 1960’s over 40% of students either walked or biked to school, now it is less than 20%. Yes, some may have to do with changes in land use patterns, but I suspect much of it has to do with parents thinking it too dangerous for their child to walk or bike to school. Such thoughts, studies have shown, are unfounded.  We had persons on our block who regularly drove their children to a school behind us that is a block away. The number of parents who drive their kids has led to issues with traffic management and stop signs at the nearby school which are needed for two 15 minute periods of time each school day.  the same families that claimi they wish to do something for global warming drive their SUV a couple blocks to drop their child off at school.  It has gotten to the point that there is now in the popular lexicon the term “free-range children.” This term refers to letting children be more independent as they grow up.  Given how Gen Xer's and Millennials think they invented the local food movement they too probably think they invented the idea of free-range children.  It would be the opposite of helicopter parenting.

..Black-eyed Susan

Regardless of helicopter parenting or not, the culture today certainly seems to make major issues of small slights popularizing victim-hood.  It is most evident on college campuses. The idea of diversity of opinion no longer exists. It certainly appears that they do not wish to hear from anyone that may challenge their preconceived notions or ideas. Democracy works best when all viewpoints can be heard, expressed and civilly debated. Creating a bunch of yes persons does little to promote an honest discourse. the Bay of Pigs fiasco is a perfect example of yes men.  Perhaps borrowing from the nickname given to my younger brother, August 1 can be re-badged as "Don’t be Oversensitive Day."  Things happen, and there will be occasions when things don’t always go ones way. But, learning from failure can be also be a good thing. The song spoof on Millennials noted above is sung to the music from the Beatles tune "Obladi Oblada", in which a recurring lyric is "life goes on, whoa." Life does go on , and in some cases persons change their mind,  just as my younger brother did in deciding not to run away all those years ago.  Happy August First!