It’s Thanksgiving week, which for many of us means eating too much turkey and pumpkin pie. For others, it means getting into arguments with your Gen Z cousin who, in a fit of righteous rage, calls you a settler colonialist and storms out of the dining room.
It was interesting that Sedaris connected the rise of misbehaving, zombie children to lower birth rates. I think the crucial question will be, how do these young humans un-zombify themselves? Where and when will it happen? I look around at many of my high school students, and see so many of them blissfully unaware of their immediate surroundings, and the happenings of the world. If we end a few minutes early, they all go right to their phones. Their heads tilt downward and their backs bend as one, like some strange prayer. Unfortunately, adults and children alike revel in the silence and the calm - it's certainly easier that way. There's no need to manage behavior when it's already being managed by a device, or, if you want to accept the worst of possibilities, by a communist country thousands of miles away. It's easy to know how to behave as an adolescent, too, if all you must do to appear normal and non-awkward is find something to look at on your phone. Still, how do our children emerge out of this ritualistic sleep-walking, which so many wander into almost as a rite of passage?
I discovered Sedaris first from the Honestly episode that came out last year. My husband and I listened in the car on a ride home from a holiday with family and we laughed until bellies hurt. Since first hearing him a year ago, we have listened to almost all of his books. Discovering his work has been the absolute highlight of my year. Thank you, Bari and team!
I laughed and I laughed and I laughed so hard. I never laugh out loud at comedy and this killed me. I only discovered David Sedaris from this podcast last year and then I read everything he had. Could he please do like a Christmas/Holiday memo for parents next? 🤣 I have young kids ages 5,5, and 8 and I wasn't offended and have seen so much of the behaviour he is talking about!
Highlight of my week!! Laugh out loud and too true!
It was interesting that Sedaris connected the rise of misbehaving, zombie children to lower birth rates. I think the crucial question will be, how do these young humans un-zombify themselves? Where and when will it happen? I look around at many of my high school students, and see so many of them blissfully unaware of their immediate surroundings, and the happenings of the world. If we end a few minutes early, they all go right to their phones. Their heads tilt downward and their backs bend as one, like some strange prayer. Unfortunately, adults and children alike revel in the silence and the calm - it's certainly easier that way. There's no need to manage behavior when it's already being managed by a device, or, if you want to accept the worst of possibilities, by a communist country thousands of miles away. It's easy to know how to behave as an adolescent, too, if all you must do to appear normal and non-awkward is find something to look at on your phone. Still, how do our children emerge out of this ritualistic sleep-walking, which so many wander into almost as a rite of passage?
David Sedaris is a national treasure. This essay is hilarious and true. Never stop writing, David!
Great, just wish he had a transcript to share!
Loved this piece! As the mom of an only child, I can confirm his take on things. I didn’t realize until it was too late how much we had spoiled her.
I discovered Sedaris first from the Honestly episode that came out last year. My husband and I listened in the car on a ride home from a holiday with family and we laughed until bellies hurt. Since first hearing him a year ago, we have listened to almost all of his books. Discovering his work has been the absolute highlight of my year. Thank you, Bari and team!
I love David Sedaris’ take on life. Thank you for having him share.
I laughed and I laughed and I laughed so hard. I never laugh out loud at comedy and this killed me. I only discovered David Sedaris from this podcast last year and then I read everything he had. Could he please do like a Christmas/Holiday memo for parents next? 🤣 I have young kids ages 5,5, and 8 and I wasn't offended and have seen so much of the behaviour he is talking about!
As the parent of two kids, 5 & 8 - this is food for a lot of thought. I don't want them to grow up entitled and unaware of the real world around them.
David, what you said hit home. Which, in the long run, is what superb comedy is all about.
Thank you.
Sedaris is the best. Thanks for the laughs today, I needed that!