How well do you know me? part II- BABY BOOMERS VS US

A lot of them are quick to advise without understanding situations.

You are automatically a rebel if you do not follow their instruction blindly

Yes they may know best in some situations and Yes it is good to listen to intruction first to learn that way before arguing reasons why you shouldn't.

However, that does not negate understanding a current situation before advising or offering instructions.
There is a huge difference between disobedience in doing as you are told
and asking that the problem be understood first in totality before an attempted instruction or solution is offered.

This is the problem.
Our generation is not stupid

there is a huge gap between Millennials , generation Z ( US)  and baby boomers (THEM)

The amount of inventions realized between those years has changed a lot of things drastically

one  being understanding society and how it works.

They did not grow up with the age of technology, they do not understand the intricacies involved

what they know they know from news and their negative experiences
thus they mostly see the negatives
 to them the positives is being able to email, being able to make business and work life easier etc.

There is far more to it than that.

How well do you really know your child?

if i were to ask you right now to name 10 deep things you know about them..can you even name 5?

This is a common question asked by the police when they go missing

what does your child like?

who are their friends?

what are their interests outside school and work?

where do they hang out?

how large is their digital footprint ?

these are questions parents just like the parent in the movie "searching" cannot answer.

Fact remains they do not know their child as much as they think they do.

if you were to ask your parent 

they will either bring up things of the past, their impression of you, or things you should work on as a person.

things that AREN'T YOU.
and it gets worse for the future generation, they were literally born into technology
you would be amazed at the knowledge they have grasped and how self aware they are
this is the time to truly get to know them
not in your way
but the right way.
ADAPT.

perspectives, perspectives, perspectives, perspectives
mine, yours, theirs, the worlds'

we would never fully get it would we?

we don't even know them but that also means they do not know us.
where is the relationship?

and it is harder to know us now because of this digital age.

we find comfort in the friends we make online

they have become the family of people who truly know us.
so no we are NOT the generation addicted to our phones
we are the generation addicted to the people that understand the world we live in
we are the generation addicted to the knowledge
knowledge we gain within apps, news apps, tech apps, different apps.
we love engaging and talking to to people, online or offline, not the social media itself.

but just like real life,
 there would be those  people that you would meet that will be there through thick and thin, 

those that are acquaintances,
those you think you know but you don't really know,
 those you are theoretically close to,
those that are fake and catfish you.
those that want to ruin your life but you aren't aware yet
Just because you met online does not mean that the connection is not genuine.
Know the difference, be wise to decipher the difference.   

ironically, the real family you have will be there for you regardless of how deep they know you or not

you are their flesh and blood !
and for that they do their best to train you in the way they feel best.
That is one that no thing one can argue with

but it is a constant cycle that will repeat of -
daughters arguing with their mothers and family divisions

why? 

because we do not really get to know ourselves.

between our parents and their parents, (our grandparents), much had changed physically that they may have disagreements on
 but it is NOT as drastic as between US vs our parents because of the age of technology.

 it is an unfamiliar environment!!
one that neither the baby boomers nor the ones before them are used to.
our parents and their parents at least had their environment in common,
society may have changed in the way it works in some aspects
but never as drastic as what the age of technology would do

AND THAT FRIGHTENS THEM!

how can you protect your child if you do not understand the world in which they live in

why throw advice at situations you can be honest with yourself in saying you  do not fully understand the rudiments of.
how do you expect to have a conversation or relationship
 when all you do is ask that they listen but not speak
when every word said back to you is back talk
try to understand,
change your perspective
be open minded
no one is begging to be in the right or saying one is in the wrong
we are craving a relationship of understanding.
where both sides get to speak
and both sides are listened to for understanding.
God does not even raise the rod before telling the people he wants to correct what they have done wrong
no. in this world the baby boomers want to raise the rod first before saying what was wrong
and the fundamental reason behind their child's action is not dealt with because they are never heard.

the age of social media is complex

and your child is wiser than you might want to give credit for.

the one traditional rule that can be passed down is how to look for signs.

signs that someone is dangerous

signs that someone is a catfish

signs that someone is a fake friend

signs on their digital footprint.
signs that they are putting their own selves in danger by what they post
signs they are giving the wrong impression to people

people hide a lot on social media

that is the beauty and danger in it.

we allow people follow us that we do not know

why? because the life that we show are moments, moments of bliss

not who we are, where we are, what we do, not the truth

its an illusion

and to us there is nothing wrong with someone appreciating the art we have created

the decoration on our profiles of our " ideal world and ideal selves and ideal life"

they do not know us.

the naive are the ones that fall short,

the naive post their real selves, post their location, give hints of where to find them

the naive talk in depth and open up to those they do not trust

those they have not paid attention to the signs of.

HOWEVER, the wise are able to sieve through the filter

this is something our parents cannot train us on because they do not understand what to look for.

ART just like real art can be broken down to understand what goes on behind the scenes
can be broken down to see what the person behind the paintbrush was thinking
Check the art the person shows on their insta, their snapchat, their digital canvas
use your wisdom to break it down
everything and everyone  can be broken down into fundamental attributes
signs to watch out for

mistakes can be made and you can make friends with useless people
but thats the beauty of cutting people off!

people begin to reveal layers to them and no one can keep a facade for years.

this is another beautiful area that the traditional rules can come into play

faith

trusting God to give you the spirit of discernment. 

trusting God to reveal to you wise decisions when making friends online 

trusting God to show you where to meet for the first time in order to be safe and wise

Trusting God that he will guide you with every step you make and take.

I have made friends online that i have known for 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 years!!!

friends, my parents have not heard one peep about

know why?

they wont understand it

all they know is how could you possibly develop a real friendship online with someone you never met

forgetting that those i know in person right now  i initially met online
and those friends that they have met have been amazing.
they know i have good friends around me so why is it hard to trust that i will be wise in selecting them online as well?

one was a youtube subscriber.. she is now one of the closest friends i have and they like her

one was on facebook, friend of a friend, an almost family friend now
 That is another wise rule, making sure the friends you have in life are trustworthy to connect you with people that will benefit your life and then after the connection you should be able to decipher for yourself whether the person is worth keeping around.

My friends too have met lovely people online that they have been dating for years.

parents don't understand this

know why?

they only know of the news that comes to them that how can you possibly see a relationship with someone online, they hear the bad news of things that happen to naive girls that follow this path.

God understands our generation
and guess what? God's rules have never changed
they are just as applicable  as society adapts
God has given the one to one access to ask Him all you need to know concerning what you are currently facing in society today

God has given us the wisdom to be wise REGARDLESS of the path in which he has brought to us.

baby boomers are used to physical paths
WE have digital paths, yes i said it! church is not the only way to meet someone. 

This is not to say dating apps are either, there are some made for christians, there are some made for cultures, places like tinder cannot bring the right kind of person, its like going to a club for a husband/wife. In that sense we are wise, we know the difference between the apps, they would not understand this because they only know what they know.

wolves in sheeps clothing.

Do the baby boomers have doubt in the knowledge they have instilled in us?

Do they have doubt in our relationship with God that has given us the spirit of discernment?

do they not realize that they themselves have faced wolves in sheeps clothing regardless of it being online?

all this will exist and continue to exist, the key rule is to BE WISE!!!

each social media has their different rules

each social media has their different purposes

every social media has fakes, catfishes and genuine people

know the difference, we know the difference, they do not.

how long do you want the cycle of not understanding your children to continue?

how long do you want to say "i will treat my kids better" " i will do better for mine"

how long will you advice without understanding.

how long will you use the pride of culture to say your child is a rebel or disobedient for speaking up.

NOT EVERYTHING IS TALKING BACK!

SOMETIMES LISTEN.

in order to be heard we must also listen.

how long do you want your child to sit in silence following like a robot to your instructions 

instructions that after following do not solve the fundamental problem because the problem was not understood to begin with.

how long will they ignore the efforts of their children

not appreciate the little things they do to accommodate for the misunderstandings.

how long will they refuse to acclimate to the NEW GENERATION.