When I Was Your Age…

No one has ever mistaken me for even-tempered.

In full disclosure I have some pretty strong opinions on many issues, and, coupled with an Italian temper, it can make for interesting – some say heated - conversations.

But nothing fuels the internal debate fire when someone younger than yours truly re: Millennials or Gen Y’ers, complain about how hard their lives are.

Now most of us received the “I used to walk (add number here) miles to school in all kinds of weather lecture from their parents and how hard they had it. Some of us got it at 8, some got it at 18 – but eventually we all got it.

Those of us Baby Boomers likely remember playing on the monkey bars – no, not the “soft play” kind – but solid steel. If you fell off and were covered with bruises and cuts, your mother wiped away your tears sprayed on some Bactine and off you went. And I can’t even imagine the grief we would have gotten from friends had we showed up for a bike ride wearing a helmet. On weekends, we would show up only at mealtimes, our parents having not the faintest idea of where we were during the day.

So, when my children or their peers complain about life, I answer with one word – Smartphone.

Really. Smartphone.

I explain to them that at their fingertips – literally - is every function that eases the stress of daily life.

Need to look up a book or a similar reference for school? For us it was the almost impossible-to-navigate card catalog. Now it’s Google.

Will it rain or generally what’s the weather going to be like today? One answer: Accuweather.

Overdrawn at the bank or need to make a quick check deposit? No problem, there’s an app for that.

Need directions? Hey, WAZE eliminates both trying to unfold those bulky paper maps in the car and the inevitable arguments about the best route to take.

Music? Simply begin downloading and create your own Playlist.

Book a flight or hotel room? Easy. Trivago or one of the other 1,000 hospitality and travel apps.

When is my doctor’s appointment? Look at your calendar.

How much is 37 percent of $1,700 – try the calculator.

See where I’m going with this?

So that bit of technology logic usually silences most future complaints of life’s unfairness.

Oh yes, and perhaps most importantly, I remind them that you can use it to call people as well.