A legend in my hometown lived to be well over 100 years young and for each year after her centennial, the local paper would ask about her secret to longevity. “Listen to the young,” she’d say. I took her advice to heart.

According to my Generation Z son, I’m behind the times in many ways, including shopping, because for the most part, online isn’t my thing. There’s no doubt his early childhood patience suffered during Mommy’s “errands” (retail escapes from toddler tedium), so I can’t fault him for this view.

That’s why I decided to listen to another Z’er, my dear friend, Mia Skaggs, a 19 year-old bombshell from Santa Barbara where she attends college. Along with her mom, Ann, we set off for a fabulous day touring the Sonoma Plaza. It was enlightening.

First of all, Mia wanted to go. Now, as much fun as Ann and I might be, I’m fairly skeptical we were the draw, especially given our old-broad status. My suspicions were affirmed when Mia took a subtle lead to show me what appealed to her. She was equally engaged when something caught my eye. And even when we made her try on “Golden Girls” attire, Mia was a good sport. (Those photos have been deleted to protect the innocent.) 

As it turns out, I loved everything about our day. Maybe I’m not so out of it after all. Or maybe we have a misguided view of what young people value and enjoy.

To reinforce the point, my son now endorses a new app that merges my habits with his youthful modalities. Nytch App is launching in Northern California (Yolo & Sacramento to start). This request-based app offers same-day convenience with a vast network of responsive mom & pop experts. Brilliant!

From what I’ve observed, online-only is a false stereotype. It’s true; the new generation appreciates the ease of purchasing with a browser, but they’re also conscientious about their world and invested in quality experiences. Shopping small fits them as well as Mia fits the fashion world (and as much as Nytch fulfills a niche).

I’ve listened to the young—I hope you do too.

(Check out Nytch wherever you get your apps, www.nytch.me, or watch my video link on Facebook and Instagram.)