Everything seems instant these days, done at a breakneck speed that doesn’t give you time to think and reflect on what’s happening.
It amazes me that something happen on the other side of the world can be shown on the news almost as it happens. Generally all the things that we have today make life much easier,washing machines,vacuum cleaners and the like, but the speed that the news beams around the world worries me a little.
When you had to rely on the radio and a weekly newspaper it was almost like seeing world events happening in installments, like a series on the television. You had time to think about what was happening, to reflect on it and form an opinion. Now, it’s there, in your face, to use a phrase my granddaughter loves.
Now, I can see the value of this, especially in times of trouble but I think that there are drawbacks.
Opinions are formed instantly based on what is reported, and sometimes the news gets it wrong so where does that leave your opinion then?
Fast food, fast internet, fast cars, everything it seems is fast. Some of my grandchildren can barely cook a decent meal, preferring to stuff something in the microwave or go to McDonalds. They took me there once…NEVER AGAIN. I have no idea what was inside the bun, but I am pretty sure it had never been anywhere near a cow.
Horrible stuff.
They call it fast food but the place was packed and it was almost half an hour before they made it to the head of the queue and returned with a tray of what they tried to pass off as food. In the time it took us to park, walk to the place and queue to be served almost an hour had gone by. With the double oven Dolores has at home, brand new because she rarely uses it, we could have been well on the way to getting a decent meal, and probably for less money.
Dolores says it’s a treat for the kiddies. Well if she stayed home with them instead of dumping them into nursery at seven every morning they may not feel the need for treats all the time. I am not against women working, but Ben has a good job, they go on holiday God knows how many times a year but that’s really the only time they see the children, when they’re on a plane going somewhere fancy. When the b’airnt (aren’t) zooming off somewhere they hardly see those kiddies. They say it’s good for them as it gives them a head start at school…see, even the wee ones are rushed into education.
What happened to letting children grow and learn and explore by experience? Letting them learn from their parents at a regular pace. Helping dad in the garden or mom in the kitchen, or even the other way around if that’s the way the family prefers it?
It’s no wonder so many people are constantly tired and worn out, stressed they call it nowadays. Is it any wonder when the only thing that seems to matter to most people is the speed they can get something done so they can move onto the next thing?
My great grandson is two years old, he’s the one who is sent to the nursery every day. The nursery had an unexpected problem with the water so he came to me and Edith for the day. We had a wonderful time, he was playing out in the garden, digging holes, watching bugs and all sorts. He was filthy dirty but well fed and sleeping in the dog bed when Dolores came to collect him. She was fuming, you could see it all over her face. She never said anything outright, just a comment about how her son looked more like a street urchin than the child she’d dropped off that morning.
I suppose he did, but he had colour in his cheeks and had played until he could barely stand up before curling up next to Edith’s very old, toothless mongrel called Deefer. They couldn’t think what to call him when he turned up on the doorstep 14 years ago so they called him D fer dog, he doesn’t seem to mind.
Anyway, I’m not sure if we will be allowed to babysit again, but I hope so, we all had a wonderful time and I’m sure we haven’t set back his education by too much. He seemed remarkably un-traumatised by the dirt and dust all over him!
There will come a time when all this speed will backfire, how will these people cope when things start to slow down? Most of the young ‘uns say it won’t but I’m not so sure. We’ll see.
Regards
Maud
I really love these stories from Granny Spear. Reading them is like sitting down for a cup of tea and a chat with a wise friend. 🙂