Delayed adulthood...

Hello!

Recently I read an article in the New York Times.  The title of the article was "The Case for Delayed Adulthood." It made me think...

If you are any kind of neurotic parent ( I would argue that includes all of us)  you have stressed from time to time about how to help your kids grow up well and become competent, non-f*@ked up adults.  I think that is the ultimate goal in procreating! So, when I read this article I wish I would have had this information earlier, although to be honest, I think Bill and I did do some of things mentioned in it.  I am sure you can find it in the Times archives if you are interested.  The publication date was September 21, 2014.

What struck me the most, was the quote "Taking longer to grow up and settle down may be better for a young person's brain."  The thought is that prolonged adolescence can actually" foster novelty-seeking and the acquisition of new skills".  This intrigues me...

Along with helping our kids achieve the basic requirements of person-hood, what about also giving them space to investigate and discover along the way.  School is a good place for learning, but perhaps not the ideal place for creative thinking, unless you are in a great educational setting that seeks to expand thought, not just knowledge, and as we all know, sometimes we are parental victims of the school district we live in, unless you have a great froward thinking school, or are able to find exactly the right setting for your kids.

What I took from this article, is that intellectual and creative stimulation has great benefit in long term health and development.  When kids, and adults, are seeking, learning, challenging, and looking for stimulating experiences, their brain expands, becomes more open and able to adapt to change.  Ultimately, people then are more able to find their way through life and it's challenges.

I would suggest that while we raise our kids to become competent adults, we should evaluate what that looks like, in terms of time.  There is no set age when an "adult" merges... maybe by allowing and encouraging growth, creativity, exposure to travel, adventure and novel experiences we help create even more competent, less stressed and happy adults.

The final paragraph of the article is:

"If brain plasticity is maintained by staying engaged in new, demanding and cognitively stimulating activity, and if entering into the repetitive and less exiting roles of worker and spouse helps close the window of plasticity, delaying adulthood is not only O.K.; it can be a boon."

So, don't worry.  If your kids need more time to find their way, like one of my favorite kids books "Leo the Late Bloomer" it may actually be better for them in the marathon that is life!

Hmmmm...worth thinking about!

Until next,

Pam