Most people can find it difficult to relate to their parents sometimes. The media portrays a strong disconnect of people between different generations and this can apply strongly to parent-child relationships.
Separation of lifestyle and childhood experiences between two generations in the rapid developing world are major factors in determining this phenomenon. This negatively influences relationships between families and heavily severs familial love important for both the parent and child as a byproduct of rapid societal development.
One of the biggest reasons for the difference found between the lives of children and their parents is the increased prominence of technology, which has grown over the past couple of decades. Interconnected webbing has taken over and led to a large increase in global communication as opposed to personal connection.
Trauma Sharma, mother of senior Sejal Sharma, talks about her own experiences growing up. “First of all there was nothing digital for me growing up, now we talk more on the phone when we used to talk more in person” said Sharma. She then talked about the lack of “nice to have features” when she grew up such as air conditioning and education oriented transportation like school buses.
Other than the increase of advancing technology found in society, shifts in popular culture play a large role in the interest of different generations. Many things that used to be common and important have been discarded due to the influx of new trends and social norms that shape modern society.
This can be found in the reduction of traditional values and cultural activities due to the lack of interest found in them. It is now replaced largely by the continuing cycle of new trends that are able to be consumed and discarded at a rapid rate due to the increased global connection.
Despite the environmental change found in newer generations’ lives, old traditions and culture are still being maintained to preserve for the future. The importance of which is significant to many as it can represent a large aspect of themselves.
Senior Sejal Sharma agrees with this sentiment as in her own life, “I will continue to celebrate my traditional festivals throughout my life. It would feel weird to me if I did not” (she said).
Sharma also explains the willingness of her parents to be able to work with newer things and ideas, “They have adapted to the new lifestyle they acquired living in the states and are usually willing to make changes”.
The differences that separate a child’s personal experiences from their parents do not retract the connection felt between them. Understanding between parent and child on what makes them different, from their own lives, is how love for them can be found.
