Changing Times: A cultural shift in generations – A story as told to me…

Changing Times: A cultural shift in generations refers to the noticeable differences in values, attitudes, behaviours, and social norms that occur between different generations. These differences are often driven by evolving technological advancements, societal changes, and changing economic landscapes, leading to a perceptible cultural shift between older and younger generations. 

Earlier I used to add a paragraph at the end of my blog starting with Frankly Speaking but first time I am starting at the beginning.  Frankly Speaking, this is the story as told by one of my friends. I realized that while the expressions of love and respect have changed, the emotions remain the same.

Our children still love us, they still care—they just show it differently.

The story goes like that in the words of my friend – I went to Dehradun to visit my son. As soon as I landed, I called him and asked, “I’m here, where are you?”

“Dad, I’m at the office. I’ve booked a cab for you. It will be waiting outside the airport. Just get in; the driver has the address and will drop you home,” he replied.

I got into the taxi and soon arrived at my son’s house. Using the key he had given me earlier, I unlocked the door and settled onto the sofa in the drawing room. After a while, the doorbell rang. Standing outside was a delivery person holding food packets.

Just then, my phone rang. It was my son. “Dad, I’ve sent your lunch. Eat and rest; I’ll see you in the evening,” he said.

I was exhausted after my early morning flight from Bareilly to Dehradun, so after eating, I quickly fell into a deep sleep.

In the evening, my son, Akash, returned home, his face beaming with happiness. “Papa! How are you?” he asked. I smiled, but I noticed he kept glancing at his mobile repeatedly. He was happy that I was visiting for the first time, but his attention remained divided between me and his phone.

The next morning, as per my habit, I woke up early and craved a cup of tea. I went to the kitchen and asked if there were any milk or tea leaves so I could make one myself. Akash chuckled and said, “Papa, I don’t drink tea!” Lying on the sofa, his fingers moved swiftly over his phone screen. I sat quietly, unsure of what to do. I didn’t even know where to go out and get tea.

Just then, the doorbell rang again. “Papa, can you check who’s at the door?” my son called out sleepily.

I opened the door to find another delivery person standing there, this time with a hot idli-sambhar packet and a steaming cup of tea. My son had already ordered breakfast for both of us. As we sat down to eat, he said, “If you ever need anything, just order it on your phone, Papa. Since I knew you’d want tea, I got it delivered.”

His words made me reflect on how different things were in our time. When my father returned home from work, we siblings would rush to welcome him—one would bring water, another would serve snacks, and someone would clear the dishes. We respected him, but there was also a sense of fear, a worry that he might get angry if we didn’t meet his expectations.

Today’s generation is different. They are practical, deeply immersed in technology, and express love and care in their way. My son had booked my flight ticket, arranged my cab, sent food, and ensured I was comfortable—all through his phone. I realized that while the expressions of love and respect have changed, the emotions remain the same.

Our children still love us, they still care—they just show it differently.