We’ve had our grandkids for two days so we’re right up against the past and present and future in any given moment. It’s really so bizarre.
They’re 12 & 9. They wanted to see the Mario Brothers movie, which included human sacrifice, and basically an intro to virtual reality. At the very end some talking blob told the kids he hoped they enjoyed the show but now they could leave and go back to their meaningless lives. I kid you not.
So, we took them on a nature walk afterwords and they were kind of unimpressed. I picked up a huge handful of Spanish Moss that had fallen off a tree. It’s really soft stuff—birds love it for their nests, and told them to hold it and see how amazing it is, created by nature. “Nature is great, because like us, it is real,” I told them. “It’s actually alive.”
Actually alive.
So much of their lives fails to be real anymore.
Kids these days have so much. Buying them an ice cream is just another day in the life for them. When I was a kid, we went out to dinner once a year. Ice cream was a serious treat. I feel like their whole life is a treat. And they eat out so often, if the food I make doesn’t taste like Chipotle or DQ, they don’t know what to do.
I don’t know how we impart meaning in our children’s lives. We passed some live oak trees on our walk and I told them our American forefathers used those trees because their wood is among the hardest in nature. I wonder if they’ll ever learn American history. I doubt it.
Trying to be upbeat about the future, but between little Mario figures being sacrificed to the Gods today, and a fucking blob telling my grandkids their lives are meaningless… I just can’t imagine the future at all. A good one anyway. Feeling kind of depressed after spending the day with them.
How do parents raise kids in this day no age? How do you do it?
When you least expect it, you'll hear them tell their parents or their friends how strong the wood from an oak tree is.
Kind of like how a watched pot never boils, you have to let it be for a while: all the love you give simmers somewhere down in their soul until it's ready to come out. Don't despair, and keep on loving them despite their issues.
No phones till they’re 15.
If you take your grandkids to a movie, and then take the mountain to nature, don’t expect them to be impressed.
You may have scheduled them on different days. OR - you could have chosen the nature walk first. That way you would have the full attention, and God’s glory would not have been overridden by pre-programming of a movie.
Don’t get discouraged! You’re doing a great job. You love your grandchildren, and that’s awesome. Just try scheduling things in a different order. Then see if things work out better.
You could look up on the Internet, some different activities that you could do our nature. Have them use their phones to take pictures of different things, and see what kind of photos they get a GodsGlory. I’m sure there’s plenty of ideas on YouTube that you could come up with to make it more of an adventure, then just a nature walk.
If you really wanna get into it, you could make it some kind of a mystery walk. I know people have ideas for that as well. But it would take a little bit of advance planning, and setting things up before they got there.
Best wishes to you and your family!
Edit: I have not vetted this site, but here’s an example. https://artfulparent.com/13-nature-walk-activities-for-kids-and-free-nature-scavenger-hunt/
Thanks for the link, Patriot. Very helpful.
As I continue to mentor my own grandyoungins, I find them way too distracted by their phones, gaming and TV. They indulge in treats far more than I was allowed in my youth. Same goes for some adults too.
I have to wonder how they would deal with a protracted electrical or communications outage, let alone actual food shortages. The start of such an event won't be pretty, but maybe, just maybe, they might learn that paying attention to reality eventually wins out in the end.
I hope all goes well with your new adventures. I’m looking forward to hearing how things go. Please post back again.
My son is very tech-minded... geocaching ended up being fun for everyone.
Additionally, I applaud you for taking such a strong stance in their lives. You might be the best and most real thing they've got happening.
We grandparents have a hard job trying to protect the future of America through mentoring our grandchildren. But we will get it done.
My kids are 10 and 4. I pray.....a lot. That's about it. They're hit with the shit from every fucking angle. Grandparents like you are a treasure! My kids have 1 like you left after my dad's vaccine death. Now my mom has vaccine cancer and we live in another state now but she talks to them alllll the time and is old school. My husband has no parents. But having her teach them things like you are doing means a ton. Keep at it and we new age parents really appreciate it!
Well I think the hardship part is coming, so maybe get them a kids cookbook, because eating at restaurants might become rare again.
We cut the cord on TV and cable way before we were even talking about having kids. We do play video games but limit screen time. There's soccer and martial arts and Trails of America (since scouts screwed the pooch). But most of all, with the grandparents' help, there's home school. Lots of reading, aloud, to each other. Co-op and family church groups. Board games and card games, with conversation. No fluoride. Clean food. No shots. Lots of time outdoors, help with yard and food garden included 😁
Good for you friend. Love your focus. I wish every parent was like you in the world today!
Lol I don't, I think I'm a mess, God bless our parents and my spouse, and the in-laws too! But yes I wish everyone was dedicated to saving their children's souls first and foremost. It's the only way to guarantee the future if this nation and the world.
Same here. Exactly. We live on 5 acres in the country, my kids who don’t live with us 14 and 11 visited yesterday. Beautiful day, sunny, 21 degrees C. They didn’t want a walk in the bush (woods) or to sit by the lake. They watch YouTube and Netflix all day and do nothing. They have no career aspirations and no hobbies.
I borrow my older day care kids one night a week and take them down the river. They throw rocks in the water and dig in the mud. They try to climb the bend over trees & build things with the branches.
Afterwards we get pizza and ice cream.
They live spoiled lives but they look very forward to Wednesday nights with me.
They are paying attention, keep it up.
It's not always about them, it's about who comes after them. I hope by continuing this little tradition that we've started, they will be sure to take their own children out answer the wonderful natural world.
Activities and crafts. Show them how to make something or cook/bake. I noticed lots of Kids lack attention from their parents (hate tablets). One on one time and listening to them talk.