My wife and I have had an on going discussion about trends we see around us, kids who never mature.. Well they are physically mature, and probably cognitively mature, but spiritually and emotionally they aren't prepared to be away from home. Usually the trend is a mother and father who are very loving, very concerned about their child's well being, but maybe to an extreme. The real question I'm asking myself is: Will my kids be able to leave home at 17. Now I picked 17 because a young man or woman by the age of 17 should have enough common sense to live on their own, 18 is only a legal age (and gives us an extra year in case they are slow).
What are the common sense type of things should your son or daughter be able to do for themselves? Laundry, cook, clean, pay bills, balance a check book, budget, self control, be a good citizen, be responsible for themselves and for those around them. Of course there are plenty of other things, but I see so many 'Kids' and I would personally call any child over 17 an adult, but they arn't because they are lacking in so many 'common sense' things. A hundred years ago, a 17 year old man would be courting, and even marring, starting a family, working in a business, a farm, they were responsible.
So why has it all changed? If you follow the talking heads on TV, they might say it's a cultural evolution, and kids need to stay home longer, and I have to say 'Rubbish'. The responsibility is completely in the hands of the parents to train up their sons and daughters to leave home. What's the exit plan? I hope to continue this discussion over the next week as I pull my thoughts together.
