About Aperol and the fear of losing touch
Kids! At first she misses out on many things because of them, but as a teenager they keep our columnist up to date.
Camels have three eyelids, whereas fish have none. And octopuses can walk upright with two arms as well as on legs. Did you know that? I didn't. Only recently I looked at this book with our son, which we had been given as a present. Before that, I was clueless about such anatomical peculiarities of animals.
It's quite a lot of knowledge that a household with children throws at you. I didn't realise that for a long time. At first, such a household seems more like a sea of almond oil and wet wipes in which it's easy to drown.
How often I was startled back then when I realised what I hadn't noticed! Which series everyone was talking about. Or that «you» have long been on Facebook. And then there was that moment when I realised that half the world was drinking something bright orange - and I had no idea!
Now, missing out on drinks trends doesn't mean you've left civilisation behind. But if I had already missed out on the Aperol Spritz, hadn't I also missed out on something relevant, but less flashy? Because I was busy with mashed potato instead? The mash was now fluffy. But it solidified a feeling: that it gave me access to a nerdy little piece of (parental) knowledge, while the bigger picture disappeared from view.
I may have slept through Facebook. But Snapchat filters keep me up-to-date - even if my avatar never changes its outfit.
The family table as a hotspot
This feeling was tenacious. But not forever. You turn up again. And over the years - especially in recent times - it sometimes seems to me to almost tip over. Not with fun facts about octopuses and camels. Nor with the fact that you'll soon be able to recite the material from the subject NMG (Nature, Man, Society), especially with several children.
But I, who was once only just able to assign Lionel Messi to the right sport, now know that Erling Haaland played 23 international matches for Norway. At least at the time our football quartet was produced. I slept through Facebook years ago. But with Snapchat filters , I'm «up to date» - even if my avatar never changes outfits. «Flex», «goated» or «slay»? I can use them correctly. Although I prefer to «flex», as I know how «cringe» that would be at my age.
The things I wouldn't know and experience if I didn't have my teenagers!
Family life constantly provides me with new updates. They run unobtrusively, as if they were a gift, in the background of ordinary dinners at the dinner table at home. They not only equip me with youth slang and football scores, but also with knowledge about memes that have gone viral and up-and-coming female rappers. Or with youthful perspectives on even more earth-shattering things.
Sometimes I have to laugh. At the fact that I once thought I would miss out on the zeitgeist if I had children. After all, they are the ones who make sure that I don't lose the thread. The one about new things - and the one between the generations. What I wouldn't know and experience if I didn't have them! And as for the Aperol from back then ... I'm happy to turn a blind eye to that. With all the eyelids I have.
