It has been said that the Age of Reason is between the age of 25 and 27. That’s when we can look forward to our son actually realizing that what we as parents have said all these years just might have had some value. It would be nice to think it would happen in all circumstances and in all areas of learning, but I assure you, that is not the case.

Somewhere during the raising of your son you have created a wise and independent young man. With that comes the fact that he has developed his own personality with his own set of rules for fair play and compassion. These rules might not be the ones that you have taught him but his own personality has taken over. And this is what you want to happen.

Remember that although you were raised with a set of rules, thoughts, good deeds and your parent’s opinions, they were indeed your parent’s opinions. As time went on and you lived in your era, your thoughts and ideas became different from your parent’s. This is now happening to your son. He is living in his era dealing with own set of principles and ideals. Surely the core is based on what you taught him, but the values and lifestyles have changed since you were raised.

His generation, or era, is very different from yours or your parent’s. Their spare time is spent differently. If it isn’t school or work, then it most likely be a computer or of game station that takes up his time. Perhaps he is more in to sports and is on several softball or some other adult league. Remember that there is a lot more freedom of movement now. Instant communication to make plans on a whim is at their fingertips. Life moves faster for them in this era and they want to take it all in, ever drop. That’s not such a bad thing but does occasionally mess with their priorities. I know, that’s where you want to pull your hair out. But didn’t we have to have someone speak to us about priorities as well?

Our children who are older have almost been jaded to too many situations in our world. They have been exposed to more violence both in real life and on television. They have been exposed violent games, harsher words, more separation among friends, and more exposure to hate. It is no wonder why their view of the world is so much different than ours. Those that have children approaching the Age of Reason, take comfort, your little boy comes back with an adult appreciation and compassion.

Our lives growing up from 7-17 were so much different. Parents still checked up on where their children are. Remember that commercial? “It’s ten o’clock. Do you know where your children are?” That was a great commercial. An exciting Saturday night was either a sleepover or hanging out under the street light just talking. We all stood outside at 7p.m. waiting for Mr. Softee to come buy ringing his ice cream truck bell. As teenagers we sat around in groups at someone’s house confessing our undying love for the guy who sits three seats behind us in algebra. We never dreamt of having sex, running away from home, or seeing who could get so drunk that they couldn’t walk in the front door. I am not saying that some of these things didn’t happen. But surely in the great scheme of things there was far less of that going on than there is today.

My point to this diatribe today is; Fear Not, your son will get to an age where he will understand all your teachings of all the years gone by. And during one of your conversations while he has come over for a visit and your are making dinner, he will say something from his lips that was the exact same thing that came from yours years ago. Only this time he will be amazed that he was the one that thought of this revelation. Now you have three choices; 1. You can say, “I told you so”. This will alienate your son and will probably stop him from having any more of these conversations with you. You certainly don’t want that. 2. You can bang your head on the wall because you just told him this exact same thing 15 years ago. That will only cause a headache. Or 3. Smile at him and tell him how proud of him you are for him to come up with a pretty intelligent observation.

Rest easy mom, your son knows everything you ever told him. He’s been storing it up. And when he gets to the Age of Reason, it will come spewing out. You know you have done your job.

Congratulations!

Be Blessed