Grow Up!!

“Kids don’t shuffle along in unison on the road to maturity.”

                

              After reading the Time Magazine article ‘What Is It About 20-Somethings?’ I have come to realize something. I realized there has been a drastic change in the course of things in terms of growing up between our generation and the generation before us. The traditional order of events for the road to adulthood goes from completing school, grow up, start a career, marry, have a family and eventually retire. Unfortunately it seems our generation can make past the finishing school but cannot seem to get through growing up. By not growing up it can delay the rest of events that are to follow.

                In the article it was started that those in their 20s, following school, move back home. It can also be said that this type of behavior may be glorified on television with shows like “$#*! My Dad Says”.

                Another realization I made was how closely related the road to adolescence/ coming of age and maturity /growing up are. Both processes include finding yourself [identity], instability, self-focus, feeling in between and “a sense of possibilities”.  But of course with adulthood it is a lot more serious and has a greater sense of urgency.  Professor Arnett from Clark University in Worcestor Massachusetts [my best friend goes there =)] calls this “the age 30 deadline.”

                I feel that when coming of age our generation was in such a rush to grow up but when the time came to be grown and take care of grown folks’ business, they were/are not prepared and did/do not want to take care of responsibilities and cannot get their priorities in order.

                In the Time Magazine article it was also brought up that many people do not take the course to adulthood in the order of which it is listed. Realistically speaking it cannot ALWAYS go as planned.  Also some milestones are never crossed, either by choice or just the way their cards were dealt. For example having a child, the situation may be that the person is unable to have children, choose not to have children or have a child before being married.

                I personally feel everyone will ‘grow up’ in due time. When a certain situation occurs they will muster up the strength to step into those grown shoes and take care of business.