Nothing's Cool Anymore

Didn't you know, there's nothing cool anymore. The word cool isn't even cool anymore. The word that's been cool since before Happy Days is no longer cool. Today's generations are being raised by TV that portrays everything as old stuff and worthless after just a few years. People talk about whether or not it's because kids' values have changed, or parents values or society is failing. Really it's just about consumerism. Companies want to always sell you something new. A new concept is needed every time you want to market something new. Contempt for the old is the easiest way to prove you're into the new.

One of the sad results of this trend is that it is no longer cool to be a kid. You're supposed to be always out having fun. Haven't you seen TV? Kids who's families are struggling say, "I'm a kid, I'm supposed to be out having fun, not working like this or worrying about that." But I can't figure out what they are out having fun doing because nothing fun is cool anymore. It's not cool to go to the roller rink, it's not cool to go out with your parents, it's not cool to go to the circus, it's not cool to go to the parade, it's not cool to do anything but stand around and talk about drinking and sex. Which of course leads to actually doing the drinking and sex as the kids get older. Of course it's fun to go out and hurt people, fun to vandalise and ok to do all sorts of things because you are bored, but it's not OK to go out and have fun with your parents because that is not cool.

Parents, please tell your kids tough crap and take them out. Yeah they are saying they don't want to be seen with you as they are testing their indpendence, but it's your job to prove to them that they are part of the family and you want them around. They want you to insist they come. It's kind of a reverse psychology. They want to push for independence, but when you don't force them to participate with the family, they feel lonely and left out. Damned if you, damned if you don't if you're the parent, but in the end, your kids will be happy that they knew you loved them enough to force them to come with you.

Also, force your kids to go do something not cool. Read a book, go to the library, go to the museum, go roller skating anything besides just standing around talking with friend, watching TV or playing video games. How on earth are they going to know what they like if they don't go out and try anything? Despite their toughness act, they are going to be chicken to go out and try new things, if you don't force them to go out and try the old things.