And this present-day phenomenon troubles me a bit.
Because there’s one skill essential and that is to read.
With all this information, this overload, we need to be able to read,
and fast. Now, I wonder…what does this mean for all these people who don’t like to read and for those who have difficulties with reading.
Are they missing the boat…or will our language change, and thus the ways of how to communicate…

As for me , I was lucky .. my parents wanted a good education for all three of us and gave up a lot so that we could go to Grammar School.

Then , in turn , we gave our sons every opportunity to enjoy a trouble free existence when possible , and then go onto University.

As to how it was when we grew up , we had communism , the threat of nuclear war and ‘the troubles’

No age is free of externally created fears , the difference now is that we are surrounded by media every hour of every day .

Alfie Patten, a father at thirteen

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2233878.ece

and the thirteen-year old prostitute

http://nymag.com/news/features/30018/

and a thirteen-year old murderer

http://www.newsmatters.org/13-year-old-brown-co-boy-to-be-tried-as-adult-in-murder/

versus the Time poll “Being Thirteen”

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1088701,00.html

In this poll of children (?) of this age group two-thirds said being a teenager is harder for them than it was for their parents. They find that reality, terrorism, bomb-attacks are forcing them to become a grown-up too soon.

Well, perhaps this could be a useful development, useful to like’s jungle…

At the age of 13 today , adolescent thoughts are turned towards school and friends , secure in the knowledge that our worldly needs are provided for by parents.

Children do seem to be leaving the nest later these days , and given the lap of luxury they are often afforded , do we blame them ?