Losing touch with the prevailing trends of popular culture is a scary thought for every adult but also seemingly an inevitable conclusion for most. The thought of no longer being with “it” is a humbling experience. Upon losing possession of “it” is the unfortunate moment when we realize that we are in fact old and that the important social trends no longer involve us or are even directed to us. You see, there is a point in each of our lives that we know, without a doubt, that we are firmly entrenched within popular culture. We are up on all the current social trends, the lingo, the fashion, the music, everything! We are in touch. We are in the know! We are the plug to the extension cord of cool. Then strangely, one day, our connection to the cool starts to break up. Trends start to pass without us noticing. Fads come and go without us being aware. Until one day we are completely severed from popular culture. The day we utter the words “What is this awful music? It’s just so loud and angry. I can’t even make out the words.” or “Why do the kids dress like that? Do they think they look good?”, then it is too late. We are too far gone. We are beyond help. We are no longer with “it.”

In fact any time you start calling a section of the population “The kids” you are officially old and completely out of touch.

Why does this happen? Most people I think desire to remain relevant. There are few of us who want to be considered social outcasts. So why do we all ultimately fall off the cool cliff? Because time and time again it happens. We start to become oblivious to fashion trends. (People still wear the acid wash jeans don’t they gang?) We are unaware of popular slang. (Gag with me a spoon. Eh? Right?) We are not up on current music? (Does Eddie Money have a new cassette out?) What is it that finally makes us stop keeping up with popular trends? Why does this happen?

Well the real question is not why, but rather, when? When does this happen? The answer is something many will dispute but unfortunately is a proven truth. Our descent from being in the know begins the moment we procreate. When we become a parent, we become OUR parents. Though many will disagree with this fact, in most cases, when people become parents they become alarmingly uncool. More often then not, this is an inevitable certainty with parenthood. Now the cool deterioration can be a slow process but the gears are set in motion the minute that baby breathes his or hers first breath. We must pass our cool genes on to our kids because the moment they enter the world we start wearing our socks pulled up to our knees and only tune in to easy listening radio stations. It must be genetic. Realistically it has to do with our time priorities. The minute you become a parent you live for your children. They become your entire world. You eat, sleep, and breath your kids. You don’t get to watch TV, movies, listen to music, or buy clothes. You practically don’t get to leave the house for the first two years. Parenthood requires you to completely sacrifice your life for someone elses. Now I am not saying this is a bad thing, far from it, but it does shelter you from the majority of popular culture. Being with “it” requires a certain self focused disposition, so therefore it is near impossible to stay up on all the current fads and trends when you have the responsibilities of parenting. It is tough not to be left behind from the social trends train.

To stay in touch as they say (notice how I didn’t say the “kids say”?) takes a concerted effort and interest. Once people get to a certain age and place in life, the effort to remain relevant with what is currently cool decreases and eventually the “it” doesn’t become a concern. I for one refuse to ever be completely out of touch. I would like to try my best to remain up on popular culture. But that said, I don’t want to be one of those people who don’t act their age either. I don’t want to be mid forty with my remaining few hair follicles dyed green while I grind on a skateboard with the young peeps from work. That is just embarrassing. There is a balance people. You can still be with “it” without having to be “it”. Am I right? Jizzle my nizzle eh? Jizzle…my…nizzle. Now where is my Eddie Money cassette?