HELP! GEN Zs are breeding!

I hear a lot of comments about the complete lack of resilience amongst the generation of people born between 1997 and 2012. The Gen Zs, aka Zoomers.

These comments are often made in frustration by the younger Generation Xers (1965–1980). (Yes, us... clock it🤏🏻! 😂) We are bewildered and fascinated in equal measure and have no idea how this happened.

We were not raised like this! Our parents would have flogged our bottoms and disowned us if we had dared! Who raised these children, we wonder, as we side-eye our senior Gen Xers and the younger Baby Boomers.

At the same time, we have full respect and admiration for their audacity. They dare! They literally "just do it". ✔️

Someone once explained the reason being that their parents were born at a time of contemporary change and social upheaval and in attempt to present themselves as "postmodern", they took up practices that resulted in the breed we now have today. 🤔 

Before our very eyes, this generation is becoming adults and parents themselves, taking the whole vibe into their own parenting.

Like my next patient.

Well, the patient is not here today. Only Mum.

She is requesting that I write a letter to her son's school to say that he can only attend school from 9 am to 12 noon. The school has started complaining that she has been picking him up at noon for several weeks.

The reason given is that the school day is too long for him and he gets tired. Also, the children are rough at playtime, and she feels that the rough play may cause him to break his bones.

At first, I think this is not unreasonable... if he has a medical condition that warrants this. 

There is no obvious diagnosis in his records, so I proceed to sift through his entire seven-to-eight-year medical history.

Numerous tests, specialist reviews and interesting letters, including one stating something along the lines of, "Unfortunately, we cannot screen him for every possible genetic disease," as he is not unwell.

I am now very curious. 

"If you don't mind me asking, is there a medical reason why he cannot attend school for the full day?" I ask, ready to apologise for missing a very important fact.

"It is because I am his mother, and I feel that the school day is too long for him. I want him to be able to rest and be at home, where I can look after him, give him a massage and take him swimming."

I pause, waiting for the penny to drop.

Nothing.

"A few months ago, he fell down and hurt his wrist."

"He had a fracture?" I ask, wondering if I have read the hospital letter wrong.

"They said it wasn't, but it was nearly."

"I can see that the X-rays were normal and he was discharged."

"Yes, but it could have been."

I am starting to realise that the mother in front of me is the actual patient of concern here.

"Have you thought about how this could impact his education?"

"Yes, I have," she says audaciously. "I even started to homeschool him over the past two weeks."

"Oh, really? That's really good. How are you finding it?"

"Well, I couldn't cope, so I am now looking for a teacher, but I can only pay £25 a day."

How do I phrase this...

"Err, I am not sure if that would go very far..."

"Well, I am his mother, and I would prefer to have a well child than an educated child."

The statement sounds so profound that I start to feel like perhaps I am being too shallow about the whole thing.

If you have heard a Gen Z influencer giving advice, you will understand what I mean.

I dig deep within my senses to fully absorb the meaning of her sentence...

Nothing.

It's giving nonsense. The maths is not mathing.

She is getting impatient with this very shallow doctor.

"Anyway, all I need from you is just a letter to say that he can leave school at 12 noon every day."

"I am sorry, but I cannot see that this is a medical problem."

"Can you not say that he is going to be referred for ADHD or autism? I am going to speak to the school about that."

"Well, see what they say, but unfortunately, I do not feel that this is a medical issue."

She eventually leaves, but she is not a very happy customer.

Maybe one day I will understand.🫪

I sit to reflect on this and then recall a consultation from the day before.

I went out to call a patient from the waiting room. The seven-year-old boy jumps up at the sound of his name, followed by his mother.

The first thing that catches my eye is that he has a large branch in his hand. It is a long stick, almost as tall as the boy himself, with branches.𓆱

I lead the way back to my office, thinking very quickly about how this affects our practice health and safety policy.

Back in the office, we settle into the consultation.

Mum wants to know if there is anything I can do to help her little boy regulate his emotions. He has angry outbursts and starts hitting things. He is otherwise physically and intellectually typical.

My old-fashioned brain is still trying to make the connection between a seven-year-old boy, regulate and emotions. I have never considered those three things in one sentence before.

This is new knowledge to me. I need to write this down.

She calls me back to the present.

"And the problem is that the school will not allow him to keep the stick with him in the classroom."

"His stick?" I ask.

"Yes," she says, pointing to the dangerous weapon in the boy's hand. "This is his emotional support stick. He needs to carry it everywhere he goes. Maybe if we get a letter from the doctor to say that he needs to have it with him..."

I honestly want to laugh out loud, but I'm a pro now, so I maintain steeze...😎

Think of something I can see, something I can feel, something I can hear... Count backwards from 15, then compose my response.

"Well, I can see why the school would be concerned about him having such a big stick in a classroom full of children, especially as he is not able to regulate his outbursts."

I pause to allow her to take it in and realise that her request is a non-starter, then add:

"Have you thought about an emotional support soft toy or even a fidget spinner?"

In his defence, the young boy is calm and polite throughout the consultation, fiddling with his sticks.

Mum doesn't think my suggestion will work.

We eventually agree that the school will send me a report about their concerns, so that I can consider referring him for an ADHD assessment as well as the Childrens Mental Health Service for support.

There have been other similar incidents, including another parent asking me for a letter to say her 11-year-old can go home for lunch because nobody wants to sit next to her in the canteen.

Or the mother who came into the appointment and asked me to talk to her 12-year-old on FaceTime because her 9 o'clock appointment was too early for her son to get hinself ready.

Yes, these are adults who live and breathe amongst us.

And they are breeding!

ARE WE READY?

😶‍🌫️🙄😬🤷🏾‍♀️🤦‍♀️