Youthful political cynicism is absolutely essential. There's a lot of what she speaks of that's true and our generations have let them down. We've been pissing in the water and the air our entire lives with such disregard that they have no choice but to face an all but certain catastrophic climate future no one has prepared them for. They face a future where there are 2 to even 3 times (depending on your age) as many people on this rock as were when we were her age. Just those 2 things amongst 100 more are enough to be happy they're not curled up under the table.
I mean there was a long time I looked at my mom and the hippies and asked what the hell did you do? You didn't win. I had 8 years of a 3rd rate monkey actor as president then 4 years of his monkey as one when I got out of high school. College was ripped from my out stretched hands. I did the suck it up bud and be happy you gotta job bit and it nearly killed me.
Of course I grew out of those things, grew to understand that I can't change it by myself and I deserve some happiness in this life and that I shouldn't feel guilty if I choose to play the capitalist game for awhile so I and my family can have some halfway decent things. But at the same time I learned I could make a small differences and that in small ways I could help change things for the better.
As my personal responsibilities began to lighten my political and social responsibilities became a larger part of my life, and I think, thats how it should be. We can't expect our young people to get it out of the gate. It just takes time for someone, anyone for that matter, to get their ducks in a row and find that path. Personally I still am. And I hope it continues in that manner.
They have to make their own mistakes and you sound like your doing a grand job of allowing that with your grandniece. When you said she shows up on time, every time, well I'd say half the battle is won. She sounds wonderful and so do you. I wish you both all the best
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