I suppose that it is a sign of getting older when we begin to make observations about the differences in the generations. Two things have happened just lately that have made me feel older.
One is that I was involved in a conversation with a young woman about when you can afford to have children. Those of us who have children know that that is a silly conversation because few people can ever “afford” to have children. But some of this generation have decided that expensive homes, expensive cars, expensive vacations, and expensive toys are needed. (Notice I said “needed” not “wanted.”) Then when they do have children, they are so dependent on two incomes that the children have to be raised in daycare centers. This seems to have become the norm to the point where some young women who would like to stay home with their children don’t know what they would do during the day if they did! Did our generation not teach our children about the value of nurturing on a full time basis?
The other was when some young people we know were in the market for a mini-van. Because they didn’t have a lot of money, they were shopping very carefully. They found one – a three year old one with only 7,000 miles for an extremely reasonable price. They were concerned so sent it through Carfax. No problems. They had it checked by the model’s dealer. No problems. We were all baffled. My theory? It was a “stripped down” model – which still meant that it had power windows and remote keyless entry but didn’t have a CD player or automatic door opener, for example. Many of the generation who are now buying minivans, want all the bills and whistles. Hence they will pass up the less expensive, less exciting version in favor of a more expensive, more payment-heavy model. Hence the need for two incomes. Hence the need for daycare centers.
I’m not against daycare centers, when needed; nor am I against bells and whistles, when they can be afforded. What I wonder is – do we think through our priorities or have we allowed our wants to become our needs? Of course the answers to those to questions are no and yes. My fear is that our Christian priorities and values are getting lost to the culture of wants over needs.
