Read something yesterday that really explained something that I didn’t previously understand. My two youngest grandkids go to a shrink to deal with the stress of their life, and jobs, and college, and whatever else. It just didn’t make sense to me. Both have panic attacks when things don’t go their way and stress rears its ugly head. Even minor stress.

What the article said was that many kids, due to well to do parents, have lived a nearly stress free existence. Never had to encounter or deal with stress at any level. Their Mom and Dad gave them everything they ever wanted. When that grandson wanted a new truck, they got him one. And when he decided he’d rather have a car, they got him one. That is exactly the stress free deal with the youngest two. The older two have had to deal with their parents’ divorce, having a time being raised by a single mom, and then dealing with a stepdad (a great stepdad). And then they had to work their way through college. Stress was always there. It appears they can handle anything that comes their way.

This may be the reason that so many young people feel like they need a ‘safe space’. I wonder if life can toughen them up. We shall see.

do the GC play sports?

Sounds like the parents cant deal with stress...........pos parents raise pos kids for the most part

They both played several sports, until they quit. When the going got tough, they both quit going.

An old guy told me many years ago that “you think your kids are so smart, till they start raising your grandkids”. So true. One daughter did great and one did not. That one, and I love her dearly, wanted to be their friend instead of being a parent, and protect them. She protected them too much.

That makes sense 603. Helicopter parents.

It’s pretty obvious that kids these days are so fragile because their parents cater to their every demand.

Didn’t have these issues when I was growing up! You worked and did what you were told to do, or mom, or dad, would deal with it. Nothing brutal, or injuring, but you got the point and learned to fly straight in a couple treatments!!!

It's sad but everything said above is true.

Bingo! That’s how I was raised. The fly swatter and yardstick were two such treatments. They got the point across real good.

Apples and trees.

Mom kept us in line with a spatula and dad did it with a belt. Grandad chased me home once with a 2x4. Just seeing a former professional football player chasing me with a 2x4 kept me in line.

Me and siblings Got anything within reach.

And if Mom had to spank us, we got one from dad when he got home.

It's hit and miss. I have known kids that have had to take care of their elderly grand parents, and some that had to raise their younger siblings. That's legitimate stress. But I also know some that have a crisis about not getting their favorite number on their football jersey.

Got this going on right now with a nephew. Uncle Bubba getting ready to get involved. Good kid spoiled and can’t see it for himself. This will be interesting.

I asked my step-mother why she did not have a working relationship with her children.

She said they did not like to be told "no". All three abandoned her and have not had contact with her for over 30 years.

I asked her if she wanted them to be told when she died, she said send them an obituary when I felt like it.

She died this evening.

^^^^^^

Yep always got a 'Two-fer' also. IF Mom spanked......it was relayed to Dad and we got it all again.

Older Brother got sent home from school one day, Paddled at school, Spanked by Mom, Spanked by Dad. Pretty sure he remembered that one.

This applies to all generations. Age doesn't matter, young and old, our society is full of spoiled brats unable to accept the real truth.

I had 3 hs kids working for me this summer. 2 we’re pretty worthless, 1 is really good. I yelled at them the other day for doing a half [censored] job cleaning up outside, pretty good chewing but nothing crazy. Next day two of them put in their two weeks to go work at another fab shop. I sent them home on the spot, and from what the 3rd said they lasted 5 days before quitting at the new job. Gave the 1 good one that took the [censored] chewing a raise, he’s a good kid

This lines right up with my experience. I don’t blame the kids. I blame their worthless parents.

i don't think some of those parents are worthless, liken it more to errors of exuberance. Read the 2nd paragraph of 603's OP and it resonated with the sister. Absolutely resonated.

603 there is never a dull moment with your family and their friends .

Agree for the most part, most kids are a by product of the lack of common sense parenting.
There are a lot of great parents who do everything right trying to raise their kids, unfortunately some kids still turn out worthless regardless.

We are still hiring damn good 20-somethings on the fire department. I got the opportunity to work off duty with two 25 year olds for a couple of days. It was By Gawd hot and we had hard work to do every day. Yes sir, no sir, plenty of hustle, great attitudes and zero quit. They even said to me first thing in the morning "what we do not know, we want to know, here to learn". I said "then I have all the time in the world for you".

So, they still exist.

And I have been called more times than I can count for chest pain, or sick call. And it is anxiety attack, and I can talk them down from it.

Go ten years younger, and I've got one that's about to be 15. She will enter the world very prepared for it. That I can assure you.

Stub, I’m viewing all this grandkid stuff from afar. Purely observation. Though I’ve been tempted to give advice, I’ve held it back mostly. I was very impressed most of the time by the child rearing of the oldest 2 grandkids. As for the younger 2, I started to see troubling signs when the older of those two, the boy, never stuck with anything. He quit baseball, quit football, quit soccer, track and cross country. Then he went off to LSU and quit, then to A&M and quit. Now he’s at Texas Tech, or will be.

The basis for all of this comes from that youngest SIL. He and his siblings were beaten by their father as they grew up, so when the SIL became a parent, he didn’t want to punish the kids any worse than time-outs. Our daughter went along with that. Bad mistake.

I really wonder where the younger grandkids go from here. The girl shows some potential, but the boy, who is a rather charming kid, hasn’t shown me anything to impress.

I did suggest that the USMC might reshape the boy, remembering how much ‘fun’ I had, but that wasn’t even considered.

So, I observe, and bite my tongue.

Remember Johnny Cash and his song, "The Boy Named Sue"?, that would toughen up a lad.

Lawnmower parents - they mow down any obstacle to Junior's path and give him a well groomed and level "social walking trail". I actually talked with a business owner that had a high school employee that had his mommy call in sick for him. I guess its better than no-showing/ghosting?!?!?