¡Gracias por compartir! / Thanks for sharing!

“We must adapt to this era, we have no choice, and that implies that we have to work harder as parents, we must constantly check on our children, because now they are more exposed to the world. They will receive insults, disapproval, they will lose many times, in front of a big audience that will even record their failure”.

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Let’s talk a little bit about Generation Glass. But, before that, I should explain its concept. Talking to my friend Veronica Jimenez, Clinical Phycologist, Doctor in Education and Academic Director at Poliestudios, she told me the following: “We call them Generation Glass, due to the fragility that implies being at the forefront of technology, but not knowing how to process that huge amount of information; also, due to the ephemeral quality of their links and emotions”.

My point of view as a mom

It is normal, as parents, to constantly ask ourselves if we are doing our job right, concerning the education of our children.

When during a growth stage, I feel like the applied technique is working, a new stage starts, and that method is no longer appliable so, we have to start over. Learning never ends, for my son and for me. This could get very exhausting and frustrating, but it’s part of motherhood. As kids grow, each stage represents new challenges for them and for us.

But, one thing is clear and hasn’t changed in any generation: our duty is to love, nurture and educate our children.

Technology

We cannot use our childhood as reference, because this time period is different; kids are going through a technological era that we never even imagined back then. The learning method is changing, there is no need to read books in order to find the answer to a question, nor use their imagination when they hear stories about a different country, because now they can see it all through a screen.

To demonize technology is not viable, because there are many positive aspects about it, and, whether we want it or not, now it’s part of our children’s lives. We must accept it and use it in a way that benefits everyone.

Talking to some friends the other day, one of them was telling us that when her kid had to investigate something for homework, she made him investigate on books, like we used to do, to encourage their use, which I thought was a great idea. To that, my other friend told us that that doesn’t make sense now, because, weather we like it or not, they have technology on the palm of their hands, and we cannot force them to use old methods. I didn’t see it that way, and she’s right.

Kids nowadays can search about any subject, or topic of interest online.
We, as parents, should encourage them to be self-taught, to enjoy investigating and learning; but of course, we have to check on them and supervise their online activity, not because we don’t trust them, but because internet does not have enough filters, and they could come across information that is not appropriate for them. That’s why it is so important to be involved.

IMPORTANT: I am not downplaying the importance of books, least of all reading. Taking our kids to a bookstore and letting them choose a book they like, is very important. Remember, there are no bad readers, it’s just that they haven’t found the right book yet.

The generation that complains about everything

I’ve read many posts about Generation Glass. Most of them talk about sensitive kids and teens, who don’t tolerate many things; they are overprotected, fragile, have low self-esteem and don’t trust their own abilities. That is, unfortunately, the other side of technology; but it’s not just that, we as parents, have a lot to do with it as well.

The character, values and mental health of our children are developed at home, not on social media, not with friends, at home.

Sometimes we forget that we, as parents, are responsible for loving, nurturing and educating our kids, and that implies things that many parents have chosen to ignore.

We can’t blame it all to technology, neither pretend that technology should educate our children. We can’t blame a teacher thinking that he/she should educate our children. A teacher’s job is to teach an assignment, not values or discipline.

How would it help, if a teacher talks to a kid, for insulting other kid, when that kid listens those same insults at home?

It hurts to see violent kids, insulting and hurting others, and they do it as if it’s normal; of course, because they see it at home, or because they have problems at home.

It makes me a bit uncomfortable to see many parents complaining about technology, schools, teachers, and the pandemic, as causes for their children’s issues, when they are the ones who should help them, before anyone else.

Shoot, it’s not easy being a parent, but it’s our main duty; we are the ones who teach our kids, from the basics, like eating and brushing their teeth, to the most important things, like loving themselves and respect others.

Conclusion

We must adapt to this era, we have no choice, and that implies that we have to work harder as parents, we must constantly check on our children, because now they are more exposed to the world. They will receive insults, disapproval, they will lose many times, in front of a big audience that will even record their failure. Imagine yourselves as kids, in that situation, and see if you could handle that amount of social pressure. Our kids are going through a lot right now, and they need us more than ever.

Please, let’s pay more attention to them, and let’s value their efforts, because they are facing unprecedented times, on high speed. Let’s not neglect their education, which is our duty to inculcate.

As a mom, I have many failures, I am aware of it. I try to improve; when I feel that I can’t handle certain situation, or don’t know what to do, I seek help from an expert. We are not perfect, but the key is to look for help, and learn.

Xoxo,

MJ

Other posts on my Blog:

9 benefits of music education in our children

How to help our kids cope with quarantine

¡Gracias por compartir! / Thanks for sharing!