What have we done??

Seriously, what have we done to the next generation? I am in my forties. The tail end of the so called baby boomers although I don't classify myself as a boomer. But some of the 35 and younger set really bugs me. They expect so much for so little.

So what am I talking about?

Example one...I was at the grocery store today. Needless to say we now have to load our own carts, take them to our cars and unload them, that is besides the point...I digressed..So something fell off the conveyor and it broke, so the cashier called 'customer service' and asked for a new one. This young gal comes walking up (slow) and grabs my item (scrubbing bubbles) and proceeds to get a new one. Mean time I am done checking out...I watch her walk all the way to produce and think, dang! This is going to take all day...So I ask the cashier to watch my fully loaded cart and I go to the bathroom. I come back, still no scrubbing bubbles and no girl. Two more people check out and the lane is closed!
Now I am not an impatient person, with all my waiting for doctors the past 18 months, I know how to wait, but this girl took over 10 minutes!!! I could have done so major power shopping during this time. It was like she didn't care?

Example two...The young men who work for me. They seem to expect to be highly compensated without the experience and education. Just because their job is hard and they do it well. Isn't that what we are paying them to do?

I remember working my hiney off, when I worked in a retirement home, retail, as a file clerk, a computer programmer, and so on...I always put in a full day and gave more. I rose up through the ranks. I never expected to rise to the top in a short time. I knew it took time and hard work.

I think the generation behind me expects too much to be given to them. I think their parents gave them too much. I worry that I might do that to my own boys. I see the next generation unable to think on their own, face adversity and perservere.

But then again, maybe the generation before me felt the same about our generation. I was living on my own by age 19, going to school full time and holding down a full time job. Oh well Fitz happens.

Character

I once read that Character is what you do when no one is looking. I have always believed that. To the depth of my soul. I feel that I have good character. My ex husband, had horrible character. My husband now, has great character. That is why I married him. I had such a horrible experience with #1 putting other things first before me and his daughter and not 'doing what was right'. So when I started to date after my divorce, I was going to marry a man with character!

The other day I was in the parking ramp and was exiting to leave. I noticed an older woman wandering around. It was very obvious that she had misplaced her car. I had proceeded to leave, then looked in my rear view mirror. I could not leave the ramp unless I helped her. I parked my car again and got out.

I found her and ask her if I could help. When I got near to her tears had filled her eyes. I told her it was okay, that I had done this once, and we will find her car. I was in no hurry and not to worry. We wandered around a bit, and I offered to drive her around if we didn't find it soon. Finally, we found it. She was so relieved. She hugged me and said "thank you lady". I say no problem.

I was so happy I could help her. Being scared and alone and lost is no fun. I am so glad that I did stop. It was a blessing for me as much as it must of been to her. When ever I can do random acts of kindness I do. I hope I am remember for this for years to come...

That's okay...

My boys are 5. They play, they fight. Today I watched them chase and wrestle each other. One got a little too physical so the other bit him. The biter ran away..I had to chase him and chastise him. The bitee was screaming bloody murder. A few minutes later, tears drying up we went for a walk with the dog.

Son #1, "oh man...It is really bad", the skin was broken. Son #2 "OH let me see, oh I am sorry I did that", Son #1 "that is okay". Son #2 "yeah, but you were hurting my neck", Son #1 "Sorry about that".

It warms my heart that they are compassionate to each other. I wish the world was more like this. I think I am doing good raising them. =0)