What traditions have you not kept that your parents had?

My parents had some quirky old-school habits or you can say traditions, especially when it came to neighbors. They were way too chummy—think festival-day visits, long chats over the fence, and diving headfirst into everyone’s business with that juicy, small-town gossip.

Now, I’m not exactly a Gen Alpha kid—I’m more of a Gen X vibe—but the neighborhood just isn’t the same anymore. The old folks who loved those traditions? They’re either gone or winding down. Their kids? Too glued to their smartphones to care about fence-side heart-to-hearts.

And here’s the thing about that overly friendly neighbor tradition—it could backfire. Some neighbors got too comfortable, asking my dad for loans when times got tough. Spoiler: it didn’t always end well. He had to chase people down to get his money back!

These days, I keep it simple: a quick smile, a friendly wave, then back to my phone. It might sound a bit cold, but it works for today’s crowd. No drama, no loans, just good boundaries in the neighborhood.