Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Are we getting it wrong?

Many years ago, when I was a fair bit younger, both in age and outlook, I started writing these pages on different topics. My intent was to make it into a book at some point. Looking back on many of them I get a good laugh at how much I've changed in some areas, and how little in others.
One of these 'articles' drew my attention whilst shuffling through papers the other day, and I thought I would share it, and the thoughts it evoked.

Who'd want to be an adult if they really knew what it entailed. Working, budgeting, debt, worry. I mean, if you take a pessimistic look at adulthood there's not much going for it. Divorce, difficult children, major illness, death.
But as with all things there is a bright side, no matter how small it might appear to be. Marriage, babies, fulfillment, retirement, death.
Now some may wonder how death made both lists. Well, whilst some hate the idea of dying, for some it comes as a blessed relief.
But really, being an adult isn't as great as kids and teens think. And let's face it, for most people it is the longest phase of our lives. For instance, the average life span is what, 85 years?. And if legally you become an adult at 18, you're an adult for around 67 years. Now that is nearly 6 times as long as childhood (12 years) and by our previous aging, you're only a teen for 5 years (13 - 18).

Not my greatest literary effort, but it does raise a good point.
We are children for such a sort phase of our lives, and you can't ever go back. So why are we pushing kids so hard to 'grow up'? Why are we putting so much pressure on them so early in their lives? There is plenty of time for them to be adults when they are adults. Why not just let them enjoy those few precious years without stress and pressure, without expectations? Maybe the world would be a better place if we didn't try to make our kids into adults before they really are.