De children know more than dem adults

Sep 21, 2025 Dem Boys Seh, Features / Columnists

Kaieteur News – Lang time, ole people use tuh tell dem pickney, “When big people talking, yuh musn’t put yuh mouth in yuh elders story.” If yuh slip up an’ forget, yuh mighta get one eye-open slap before yuh could seh “excuse me.” Pickney use tuh know dem place — sit down quiet, ears open, mouth shut. When aunty an’ uncle come visiting, dem children does get excited. But as soon as dem adults start talk, is like one invisible broom sweep dem pickney straight outside fuh play. Big people story was big people story.

But nowadays? Boy, the world upside down. Children ain’t waiting fuh hear nothing — dem telling de news before big people even open dem mouth. Long before aunty take off she shoes, dem done post pon TikTok how she bun de saltfish this morning. Before uncle sip he first glass a Mauby, dem done share pon WhatsApp how he ketch he neighbour cow eating he cassava.

An’ when big people talking now, is not that children quiet. Is dem who leading de conversation. Dem know who get lock up, who get divorce, who buy new car, an’ who get evicted — all before de radio man come on. Dem parents still waiting pon six o’clock news, while dem pickney already upload video, put filter pon it, and get a hundred likes.

Imagine dat — lang time children couldn’t even cough too loud when elders around. Now is elders who begging pickney, “Share de Wi-Fi password, nah,” or “Check if dem post back de funeral programme pon Facebook.”

Dem Boys seh is one upside down world. De children running de news desk, de gossip corner, and de information ministry. An’ de big people? Dey just de audience, clapping along.

Talk half. Leff half.

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adults, children, Dem Boys Seh, pickney

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