There is much talk today about the generation gap—that invisible chasm between parents and their children. While there has always been a gap between one generation and the next, there are many who feel that it is deeper and wider today than ever before.
Several factors, like the rapid changes that are occurring all over our world, improved communications through television, and growing affluence no doubt contribute to this. However, the principal reason lies in the fact that many parents are too busy for their children. When parents do not take time to really know their children, the parent and child will grow up worlds apart.
Whatever generation gap that might exist can be bridged by parents doing several things:
1. Love your child. Love is the basic need of every life. Nothing else can substitute for it. Many parents haven’t learned this and are still trying to substitute material things for themselves. This will never work. Children are soon dissatisfied with things and will reject the parent who tries to substitute them for the love they really want.
2. Talk to your child. Communication is essential to maintaining any relationship. The lines of communication between parent and child cannot be strung overnight. They are erected day by day as you talk and listen to one another. If you are too busy to talk to your children about little things now, they will be too busy to listen to you when they are older.
3. Teach your children to work. Work is a part of life. The sooner children learn this, the better. They should be given a job to do even if you have to invent one. Work and the important lessons it teaches will serve as a bridge between parent and child.
4. Set a good example before your child. At the heart of the generation gap is hypocrisy. Parents who preach one thing and practice another are phonies. Nobody respects a phony, even if they are your parents.
Parents, let’s build some bridges over the generation gap by taking time for our children!