Give Your Parents Back Their Youth

Last night my mother experienced her first Lyft ride, rode a motorized Lime scooter for the first time, and joined me in exploring Piedmont Park and the Atlanta Beltline.

She’s visiting from out of town, and as her host I’m determined to put her into the mindset of a twenty-something, if only for the weekend. It’s been so long since she’s been able to be young. But judging by the current count of her new experiences this weekend, she’s getting at least a fair reminder.

The birth of a child is the last note of youth many people ever hear. But as I’m discovering, if you’re that child, it’s a special privilege to be able to give your own parents back their youth – or at least the feeling of it.

Youth is largely a spirit and an attitude of openness to new experiences. If you’re a young adult in your 20s, you have that openness in spades. If you’re also competent and creative and responsible, you can return the gift your parents gave you: you can take care of the details and the logistics and the needs so that they can have the joy of discovery.