I think there’s some truth to that. If this were not a belief, the kids could have this sort of education taught at the same time heterosexual materials were explained years later.
It is the human condition for children from the earliest ages to think they are mature, and fully understanding of life’s topics.
Take a look at the 1.5 year old who is looking down on the new baby in the family. He instantly identifies with the adults rather than the new baby.
At 1.5 years of age, he thinks he’s no longer a baby himself. While that is technically true, he is in no way prepared to take care of himself. In many/most cases he isn’t even potty trained yet. He is still on the cusp of being a baby himself.
Progress forward a couple of years. The now 3.5 year old child thinks they should be given the same privileges as the 6 year old child in the family. That isn’t realistic, but that is the 3.5 year old child’s view of things.
This progresses at every stage of child development, the quest to be treated more like an adult than the child they were last birthday.
Kids think they should be driving at 12. They think they should be able to date at 13. They think they should be able to stay out all night at 15. They think they should be seen as an adult at 16.
No 18 year sees a 15 year old and thinks adult. No 22 year old looks at an 18 year old and sees an adult. No 30 year old sees a 22 year old as a sees an adult.
This is something children and young adults have to deal with. It’s something their parents have to deal with also.
Young adults at 30 years of age, don’t think their 50-55 year old parents should be giving them advice. Adults at 50-55 have lived enough life to know how to avoid pitfalls. They see the dangers just ahead. They can’t and shouldn’t make decisions for their adult kids, but at the same time they are failing their kids if they don’t warn and explain why.
I’m 66, and at times my mother gives me good advice. I listen to what she says and I try to be cognizant of it.
I know that she has traversed the same issues I have, and knows a thing or two to avoid, even at my age.
Now, as at other times in my life, I may not do exactly what she urges but I do take her warnings serious and I will probably develop my own strategy for avoiding the problem she has identified.
We are all growing up at every stage of our lives.
It’s when we think we have arrived (at any age), that we get into trouble. We become complacent, and trouble sneaks up on us.
Here’s to avoiding that in life, at any age you traverse through.
A very good rule of thumb is this. Imagine telling your parents what you’re about to do. If you would be ashamed to tell them, DON’T DO IT.
I don’t care if you’re 75 and both parents are dead. It’s an excellent tool
Using Jesus in the same exercise is even better.
Don’t assume you know how Jesus would think. Study up on it, don’t do or support things the Bible has made clear.
All the best to you.
I like to freak out the millenials in my midst who think they are the greatest because they think they are cooler than my generation because we are old. I tell them they are old too. A new generation has already risen behind them, and this new generation is smarter, more inventive, mote individualistic, and more stable than the millenials. And since they are younger than the millenials, based on the millenial criteria that youth is cool, this newer generation is cooler than the millenials. Lol!
Millenials are growing up gracelessly. They will be ugly when they are in their 50s and feeling their age, if they are lucky enough to make it that far. :)
You are one of the wisest yet most easy going people in all of social media (including Twitter, reddit, and 4Chan), Doughty One. Free Republic is lucky have you here!
Wow. Great post! I’m humbled to read it. Not joking. Very good.
BTW I’m stealing it and parts of it to use in the real world.
Thanks
Yep. For years here I had a tagline that read "Right when you think you're really good is when you need to pay the most attention." Overall, great post.