A headline on MomLogic yesterday not only caught my attention but evoked a number of emotions: sadness and angry…but not shocked. The headline, “At what age does your child become an adult?” referred to the USA Today story Kids and parents agree: 18- to 25-year-olds aren’t adults.
As for my emotions. Here’s how it broke down: Sadness because somehow we have allowed the teen years to continue into young adult life. Anger at my parenting predecessors for allowing this! But, not at all shocked. When you look at today’s young adults/emerging adults in the world, they act like glorified teens. And, that is not ok in my book…and it shouldn’t be in anyone’s book. That also angers me.
The caption of the picture on the USA Today story says it all:
“Though legally adults, many people ages 18 to 25 agree with their parents that they have some growing up to do.”
Of course they still have some growing up to do! That is called life and gaining life experience. That is what your 20′s are about. Each phase of life has it’s own unique challenges and the 20-something years are about finding out who you are and a lot of mistakes do occur during those times. You flounder a bit and try on a few hats. Again, that is called being a 20-something. I can promise all of you, you will be very different in your 30′s…but you need to experience the 20′s for all it has to offer – the good, the bad and everything in between. If your parents drive those experiences, you are honestly short-changing yourselves and that makes me sad for you – and very disappointed in your parents.
What gets me is the overall view that you have to stop doing dumb things to be an adult. By that definition, as MomLogic pointed out today, many of us adults should start calling into question our own adulthood! This situation developed because the parents of this generation of “emerging adults” couldn’t let go.
Parents, cut the cord when your kids get to college. Stop bailing them out and making excuses. If your parents had done this to you, you would have been less than pleased. BTW, if your “kids” get married during this time period, do they then become “adult”? Just curious…
“Emerging adults”, let the cord be cut. You may still have to ask your parents for help now and again – even financial help. But stand on your own two feet! If you can vote and drive a car and pay bills, you are an adult!!
And, to those of us who still have kids who are still kids, under 18…let’s not let this “emerging adult” label stick beyond this generation. By the time our kids turn 18 and then progress into their 20′s, I’d like to see the old fashioned adult label return and stay there! I’m up for the challenge, how about you?
