When my 13-year-old niece Lily came to spend the summer with us, I was overjoyed to see her again. However, I was unaware that her arrival would cause me to reevaluate my beliefs and confront the generational divide.
I was horrified to see too-revealing clothing and makeup when I opened her suitcase. I felt like I was about to lose my precious, naive Lily. I was terrified as I dialed Emily, her mother, to beg for assistance.
For several days, I kept an eye on Lily and attempted to understand her environment. We shared tales, discussed our emotions, and made apple pie together. Without cosmetics or clothes on, Lily was still the sweet, intelligent, and genuinely interested girl I had always known.
Discovering your identity is an important part of growing up, I realized as we laughed and browsed through old photo albums together. Lily was searching for herself; she wasn’t attempting to battle with me.
I gained the ability to trust Lily’s path and embrace change. Our summer together taught me that with patience, understanding, and a willingness to listen, even large generational differences can be bridged.
When I consider the time we had together, it’s comforting to know that individuals don’t really change that much. All of us are just trying to survive. Sometimes we just need a little love and compassion.
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