Parenting is like riding in cars with kids. When a baby comes home from the hospital, he is strapped in his car seat facing the rear, secure in his parents ability to get him safely home.
As he grows, he begins to be aware of his existence and with that his car seat is turned to face the front. It is still in the back secure and his parents are still in charge of the vehicle.
Eventually, he is able to recognize things on the trip such as cows, horses, lights, McDonald's. In this, he is also able to understand small responsibilities such as pick up your toys, put your plate in the kitchen, get your coat. However, the parents are still responsible for the drive and his car seat is still in the back, but it sits up now and allows him to see out the windows.
Then he graduates to a booster seat. His parents still drive, but at this point he is capable of recognizing land marks on common routes that are traveled often. He is also capable of dressing himself now, getting his own drinks, etc.
By the time he is out of the booster seat, he can sort laundry and do dishes with assistance. By this time he is able to guide the driver to locations close to home. He still sits in the back seat and depends on his parents to make all the driving decisions.
Eventually, he turns twelve and is allowed to sit in the front seat on the passengers side. By this time, he should be able to be rotated through about any household chore. He should start cooking with some supervision. In this he begins life as a preteen and graduates out of the childhood stage.
When he turns 15, he gets a permit and begins the gradual sole responsibility for his life and the car. His parents are still ultimately in control, but are more like the bumper pads on a bowling lane. They make the rules and the discipline that follows, but they have to trust their child to make the right choices.
At 18, a parent is not done. It is probably one of the hardest times, because at this point the child is considered an adult by society. Hopefully, due to proper training, he is responsible enough to shield himself from any irreversible harm. As parents, you are now fans in the stands of a football game. You are no longer on the field; no longer a participant, but the child on the field still looks to the fans for approval.
In time, the adult child becomes completely independent and the parent becomes more of a friend, a fellow traveler on the road of life. The adult child starts the process by having a child of his own. The parents become grandparents and watch the process repeat. They are now the wise advisory, but be wary not to give advice unless asked. The adult child has to travel this road and raise his child.
As he grows, he begins to be aware of his existence and with that his car seat is turned to face the front. It is still in the back secure and his parents are still in charge of the vehicle.
Eventually, he is able to recognize things on the trip such as cows, horses, lights, McDonald's. In this, he is also able to understand small responsibilities such as pick up your toys, put your plate in the kitchen, get your coat. However, the parents are still responsible for the drive and his car seat is still in the back, but it sits up now and allows him to see out the windows.
Then he graduates to a booster seat. His parents still drive, but at this point he is capable of recognizing land marks on common routes that are traveled often. He is also capable of dressing himself now, getting his own drinks, etc.
By the time he is out of the booster seat, he can sort laundry and do dishes with assistance. By this time he is able to guide the driver to locations close to home. He still sits in the back seat and depends on his parents to make all the driving decisions.
Eventually, he turns twelve and is allowed to sit in the front seat on the passengers side. By this time, he should be able to be rotated through about any household chore. He should start cooking with some supervision. In this he begins life as a preteen and graduates out of the childhood stage.
When he turns 15, he gets a permit and begins the gradual sole responsibility for his life and the car. His parents are still ultimately in control, but are more like the bumper pads on a bowling lane. They make the rules and the discipline that follows, but they have to trust their child to make the right choices.
At 18, a parent is not done. It is probably one of the hardest times, because at this point the child is considered an adult by society. Hopefully, due to proper training, he is responsible enough to shield himself from any irreversible harm. As parents, you are now fans in the stands of a football game. You are no longer on the field; no longer a participant, but the child on the field still looks to the fans for approval.
In time, the adult child becomes completely independent and the parent becomes more of a friend, a fellow traveler on the road of life. The adult child starts the process by having a child of his own. The parents become grandparents and watch the process repeat. They are now the wise advisory, but be wary not to give advice unless asked. The adult child has to travel this road and raise his child.
