Posted on 03/13/2002 4:28:34 AM PST by g'nad
It's no secret that in one way or another, I have been parenting an adolescent since the day I was married. I look back on my marriage with mixed emotions – pride that Bill and I were able to convince a majority of Americans we were not criminals; wistfulness about how many more women than I Bill had during the last 25 years; and, most of all, gratitude to all who have given their lives so that I may avoid serious jail time. We know how fortunate we are.
On Thanksgiving Day, Bill and I held a Senate Conference on adult adolescents and the problems they cause. We joined other parents, spouses, adult adolescents and experts to discuss ways we can all work together to help those families suffering from the abuse of an adult adolescent.
Why hold a Conference? As Bill has shown, adult adolescents feel that growing up today is tougher than ever, so they refuse to grow up. While Bill's case may be extreme, the tragedy of the Lewinsky scandal is a chilling reminder of the consequences of an adult who remains an adolescent emotionally.
If it's hard to be an adult adolescent, it's even tougher to be a parent or spouse of an adult adolescent. More and more wives are working outside the home, leaving the door open for a man's inner adolescence to bubble to the top. Women tell me they worry that all their best efforts to create a happy marriage with an adult man are useless when one of our recent presidents lives a teenager's life of gratuitous sex and drug use.
One of things we talked about at the Conference is the role wives and parents can play in their adult adolescent's lives. What parent of an adult adolescent hasn't dealt with the disaster of an adult child who wouldn't move out of his parent's house? And what of the wife whose young husband she couldn't keep out of her lap, but as an adult adolescent is now embarrassed to be in the same room with her? More and more, studies are showing that adult adolescents need and want to be physically disciplined by their spouses.
Twenty-Five years ago, Bill and I embarked on our life together, and his weaknesses were apparent from the beginning. While a young governor, his peers admired his humor and intelligence, but they worried about his adolescent behavior. At the time I told myself, "he's just 30 and will grow up eventually." But almost every week, I received a call from some woman complaining about Bill's behavior.
While governor, Bill began using drugs, let his hair grow long and changed his friends. At the time I was worrying about my law practice and my investments in the futures market, so I was blinded to Bill's cries for help. When we were elected to the presidency I figured Bill had finally grown out of his adult adolescence, but his second term quickly became a disaster, and he was nearly expelled.
So I urge Congress to extend the Family and Medical Leave Act to the parents and spouses of adult adolescents so they can take the time they need to take their adult adolescent to the therapist, priest, or to the woodshed. I will work closely with technology companies to create products such as a belt alarm that sounds every time an adult adolescent's pants are dropped. Together we all can help the adult adolescent make choices that are good for them, and good for us.
Hillary Rodham Clinton, is a former first lady of Arkansas and freelance politician whose clients include the people of New York State. Hillary can be reached at:
Imagoodfornothingloudmouthedbackstabbinglyingbitch@bsnn.net
In New Orleans this week! What a place of carnal knowledge and debauchery! Hillary and Bill should have moved here. They are accustomed to corruption in politicians here!
Is this FReeper handle taken yet?
But with any luck at all, these CLYMERS will be old news by the time they get into mass production.
Now if Hitlery goes for the WH, the calculus changes.
Don't go earnin' too many beads!
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