When Does Childhood End?
In my opinion, growing up is a process. There is not a magic day on which a human being (*bing*!!!) goes from being a child to being an adult. It is nonsensical to conclude that someone's behavior must be excusable or could not possibly be malicious because they are a "child" - because there is no clear definition of a child. Because, again, there is no (***BING***!!!) magic day when a person goes from "child" instantly to "adult."
It would be really bad if there were such a day. I mean imagine - one day you're carefree, held accountable for nothing you do, able to excuse anything because, hey, you're just a kid. Then the VERY NEXT DAY you'd be a fully accountable adult. Wow, you'd get in a whole hell of a lot of trouble that day and the next day and the next one if things really worked that way. And you'd be really pissed, too. Because how could anybody possibly expect anything of you or hold you accountable for anything - they never have before!!!!
Boy, it's a really good thing that in REALITY humans grow up GRADUALLY, and there is no magic age line prior to which other humans are not PERMITTED to hold them accountable for their actions because that would be WRONG because they're just a CHILD!
Is there a "barf" icon on here?
L
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Exactly. Permissive parents
Exactly. Permissive parents (small p deliberate) who excuse all sorts of behavior with "but they're a CHILD" socialize their children into adults who behave just as I described - "how dare you hold me accountable for anything! nobody ever did before!" - and the rest of society has to deal with those individuals. And those individuals suck.
I say if you act like a punk, I'm going to go ahead and call you one.
I'm mature enough to be able to tell whether you're really too young to know any better or you're being an ass. If you're too young to know any better, then I won't hold it against you. But if you're being an ass, I'm going to say so. Because it doesn't do anyone any favors, least of all the "CHILD" (!!!!!) in question to excuse it.
Ooooh - found the barf icon! :sick:
L
Thats my favorite...when DH
Thats my favorite...when DH says "he's just a child". I feel sorry for them because SS is never going to be able to function in society with the way things are going.
I have a friend who believes
I have a friend who believes you shouldn’t let a child sit in the bathtub while the water is going down the drain… something about it being a meta-metaphor for their hopes and aspirations going down the drain… (?) Seriously.
My H and I were just discussing something like this over the weekend… I have these reoccurring dreams about High School and the people we knew there (we’re 16 years out of HS but it’s all fresh as a daisy in my mind!) and I was asking him why he thinks I dream about it so much and why all of those little things still seem so important even now? And he thinks it’s because they were the last “true” years of childhood… when you’re still completely self centered and dependant on others because you have no choice but to be! They were safe, fun years where you can peep into the windows of the pleasures of adulthood without any of the consequences. My mind must creep back into that safety when I dream.
I believe childhood ends the minute you realize that not only are you responsible for your own well being but others as well. Adulthood… thy name is “Responsibility”.
I've always felt that
I've always felt that responsibility and privilege should be proportional. You assume responsibility, you are awarded with privilege. Initially the responsibilities are really simple, like controlling your own behavior. Later, there are chores. Then school. Then a job. It's a continuum from very, very early all the way through full independence.
Sounds like you had a nice high school experience.
L