What has changed when you were a child compared the children now.

Hi everyone have you ever had time to sit and reminisce?

I remember in my country of Trinidad as a child we were free, no fear of anything or of anyone. My days in primary school which was much clearer to me they were happy days. We would walk to school, if there were fruit trees along the way, it was fun to go and steal the fruits then runaway.

By the time the owner realizes what's going on we were already speeding down the road and laughing, of course that is to eat in class: hiding it below the desk.

There was always a leader, seeing you want to be in the clique, whatever they told you to do, you do.

Punishment

If for some reason we did something wrong, an adult in the village had the right to scold us. Don't try to give any attitude 'cause when you get home your licking book for sure.

I was always someone who wouldn't take any nonsense from anyone, I had a mind of my own. Whatever the circumstance I would defend myself no matter what. knowing if this reaches my father 'my cocoo cook'.

Academically

I was an averege student, always striving for excellence both in the classroom and on the sports field. My father was a strict disciplinarian, we could not pull any tricks on him. when is time for school work and home work we couldn't flinch, he had us in a straight jacket.

Chores

At home we had chores such as: cleaning the yard and the house which must be spic and span, At that time we didn't have running water so we had to full water before school and after. We had to feed the animals, clean the fowl coup.

When my father came home from work he must not see anything out of place. Our calypso King of the World the mighty sparrow sang 'School days are happy, happy days' I enjoyed my school days.

Children now a days

Gone are the days of text books, school bags, pen, pencils and stuff. I have some grandchildren living around by me whom I have been watching very closely.

So strange, when they wake in the morning, no toiletries, no prayer, no breakfast, straight to the device and games.

In this era we have virtual schooling where everything is device, this has given the children greater priviledge to be on their devices. One day I decided to go through my granddaughters' device, you won't imagine what I came across.

Conversation

Jane "Wha'd up girl'

Mary "Ah good"

Jane "So wha's de scene"

Mary "I cool yes"

Jane "We going to the mall later, yuh down"?

Mary "IDK not sure".

Jane "I met this awesome guy online, he real hot. Hahaha".

Mary "Not sure I heard you right, where did you say you met him"?

Jane "On line nah, wha so wrong 'bout dat."

Mary "But yuh say yuh met him on line, yuh real brave. Wha yuh parents saying".

Jane "Who me? I doh have time to study dem nah, dem done live their life already

"

This is the level of conversation the young people are carrying on, we the adults are oblivious of it, not until something happens; then we want to close the stable door after the horse is out by then it is too late.

Parents of today

As modern parents they're always busy, they don't have the time to spend with their children or oversee them. The quickest thing they can do is put on the TV have them play video games so they would be quiet.

Comparison

In our days we had home grown food stuff in abundance, each family grew their own rice, vegatables, ground provisions and greens. We had to go to the river to full water and wash.

Now a days at every corner there's a fast food restaurant, they have washing machine and dryer. Toilet and bath inside, we had out house or latrine, we had to bathe outside; the happiest time is when rain fell when you can go out side and bathe in the rain.

No refrigerator whatever we cook had to be consumed the same day. No stove, had to go and get wood to make fireside and the food taste sweeter

With all the modern equipment that are available to the modern generation to make life easy for them, they're lazy, ungrateful, disrespectful and some of them refuse education: they say it is a waste of time.

They rather hang out on the block, get involved in gangs, smoke weed do drugs, When their parents think they're in school, in the middle of the day they receive a phone call to come to the station or to the morgue.

Closing remarks

I understand, being a parent myself we cannot oversee our children twentyfour seven, the important thing is to instill core values in them so when you're not around they'll know how to carry about themselves. They must not be swayed by delinquent company.

We must be able to investigate their friends discreetly, sometimes we could check their phones, if you get caught and they ask "what are you doing with my phone" just say I was checking the time.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post. Many of you may or may not experience such situations according to the era you were brought up,

So we can say like Jimmy Cliff and lets' make this a wonderful world with beautiful people full of love for that is what makes the world go around.

Please feel free to leave comments below on what has changed for you compared to the lifestyle of the young people nowadays.

Regards,

Elodie.