Remember two years ago when I mused about how American society really suffers from not having a clear-cut bestowal of adulthood? It seems I am not alone in that thought. I’m reading a good book by psychologists called Escaping the Endless Adolescence which addresses this very idea.
Authors Joseph and Claudia Worrell Allen are clinical psychologists who have noted how the endless postponement of the promise of adulthood has made teenagers feel powerless, leaving them increasingly unable to cope with providing for themselves. Once a very quick phase one lived through in one’s teens, adolescence now stretches well into the 20s and beyond.
Kelly and I make lots of mistakes in raising our kids; indeed, parenting is one of the hardest jobs anyone can take on. One thing we’ve tried to stress to our kids is the importance of being responsible for themselves. Whether those lessons do any good remains to be seen but we’ve always spoken to our kids with respect of their ability to make their own decisions. They get plenty of practice in making their own decisions and have learned much from it.
I’ve just started the book and can’t wait to read the rest. I am glad someone is taking a good, fresh look at this crucial part of growing up.