Dear Connor,

It’s been a while since I wrote my last letter to you, and while I could wait until I see you later this week, I figured what the heck. I’ll start with one of those questions people of a certain age natter on about: What’s wrong with kids today?

For the life of me, I don’t understand why we ask this. I mean, we heard our parents ask it about us and we rolled our eyes at them. Our grandparents asked it about our parents, and as far back as written history goes, older generations have been uncertain what to do with their offspring. Maybe it’s like those “old-people noises,” the huffs and grunts we make for no apparent reason. Just happens.

Of course 21st century adults have reasons for the question. Kids today don’t read. Their heads are stuck over a phone. They’ll text a friend sitting right next to them and never have a real conversation. They ride those e-bikes like they’re never going to die. I could go on, though I won’t, because listening to old people whine about young people is dreary.

It’s double-dreary when it comes to politics and the state of democracy, or lack thereof. Too many baby boomers are so distraught over the unraveling of the world they grew up in — and so distrustful that the younger generations even care — that they’re in something of a panic. In my most contrarian moods, I think we boomers remain convinced we’re the only generation who can save the world, so we’re holding on for dear life to our waning power and control. We get cranky about it, when really, we should get out of the way and let the Xers, Millennials and Gen Z move in.

I’m sitting here on my porch this Monday morning, writing my column (and your letter) a day before deadline because Tuesday Ranger Ed and I will work the polls for the general election. Rarely has a midterm election been as consequential. The results will tell us if America’s rule-of-law Constitutional foundation can prevail over what’s become a cult culture of autocracy, white Christian nationalism and unfathomable greed and lawlessness.

Kids today know how to take the country forward

The national polling numbers and the mood of voters strongly indicate folks are mighty unhappy with the current state of affairs, whether it be philosophical, political or just plain pocketbook. A shift has occurred among American voters, and it’s gaining strength.

This national election is akin to Key West’s mayoral election in August. In late July, a few days before then-Commissioner Sam Kaufman roundly beat his opponent, incumbent Mayor Danise Henriquez, I spent some time slicing and dicing demographic shifts on the island and how those shifts affected the push-pull between longtime Key West residents and relative newcomers.

This was my conclusion: “I’m not calling this election. Energized voters show up. But the big-picture Key West numbers, party affiliations and the demographics of likely voters signal a shift is coming in who’s in charge of Key West. Might not be this time, but that shift isn’t slowing down.”

If you change “Key West” to “America,” I think the same holds true nationally for the midterms. If that so-called “blue wave” doesn’t happen in 2026, it will happen in 2028 when Americans elect a new president. (All that assumes we have a peaceful transition. Heaven forbid we have to endure a second Civil War or World War III.)

Whether the shift culminates this week or two years hence, the following 10 years will be grim as the nation struggles to define who we are, how we’re going to go about our lives and what will become of our 250-year-old Constitutional history.

It sure as heck isn’t going to be baby boomers. So that leaves you and your parents and the like-minded younger generations. I think y’all have got this. Because the world you live in has prepared you for the world you will build after the shift fully resolves. What’s wrong with kids today? Nothing they can’t handle.

Why? Because of something your mom wrote last week:

“Connor reached a pretty exciting milestone today with something he’s been working toward for a long time. And while he prefers to keep his digital projects mostly his own, I do want to celebrate what I’ve watched him build.

“When people learn about his creative projects for fellow gamers, I often get the same questions. Do I worry about how much time he spends playing video games? Does Lee edit his content? Does he deal with negativity online? And my response always starts with this: It’s so much more than playing video games.

“I’ve watched him spend countless hours editing videos, studying analytics, identifying trends, understanding his audience and figuring out what works and what doesn’t. He’s learning creativity, strategy, entrepreneurship and perhaps most importantly, resilience. How to handle criticism, navigate disappointment, celebrate the wins and keep going when things don’t go as planned.

“But what makes Lee and me the proudest? We’re not asking him to do any of this. And we’re certainly not doing it for him. He’s doing it because he loves it. Because he’s curious, determined and wants to see what’s possible. And while navigating middle school and the online world certainly comes with challenges, I’m incredibly grateful for the amazing friends, both in real life and in his online communities, who cheer him on, support his creativity and genuinely celebrate his wins. That means more than any of them probably realize.

“I don’t know where this passion will take him. What I do know is that he’s developing skills that will serve him throughout his life. More importantly, he’s a good human who cares deeply about others, with a passion and determination that I hope we can help him learn to harness. Because I truly believe he’s destined to do amazing things.”

I’d say your mom is proud of you and so am I. Love you, Connor. See you soon, Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, as your great-grandfather used to say.

Dear Connor is a collection of essays Linda writes for her grandson, Connor. She began these letters in November 2016. Though he may never read them, they help her make sense of the world.