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Written by Craig Slater
As a child of the 1980s and 90s, I would understand if people from this generation are struggling with the concept of social distancing.
Growing up during that time meant pickup football, baseball and shinny games with kids from the neighbourhood. Dozens of us would meet almost daily at the park down the street only to return when the streetlights came on.
Today, however, those same parks that hosted some memorable battles sit empty thanks to health and safety guidelines put in place to help combat COVID-19.
For us back then, staying home seemed like punishment. ‘You’re grounded’ were the two scariest words my parents could say to me. Luxuries that kids enjoy today like video games, cellphones and hundreds of TV channels didn’t exist for us.
We lived for those games in the park and bike rides to the local confectionary to blow our weekly allowance on candy and sports cards. We found our own fun and we invented new ways to pass the time. We entertained ourselves without technology.
During these times of quarantine and staying home, I get how an older generation may find it challenging to endure such restrictions.
Social distancing, though unintentionally, is the norm with millennials and today’s teenagers. Thanks to the ever-expanding uses for cellphones, social media and streaming services, we can connect with friends and family across the globe in a matter of seconds. However, as ironic as it is, we have never been more disconnected as a society.
Sure, younger people may excel at it. But for people from my generation or my parents’ generation, we generally do not thrive in isolation. Yes, we have accepted modern technology into our lives, but old-fashioned face-to-face conversations with our friends and family are our bread and butter.
So if you do have teenagers in your home, now might be an ideal time to talk to (or text) and remind them for the umpteenth time just how easy they have it.
