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18th Birthday - A Time Of Transition And Change |
By:
Sky Hudgins |
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Parents often have a difficult time watching their children grow up. Birthdays come and go and before we know it our children are adults. The 18th birthday typically signifies the beginning of adulthood in our culture even if our children are no more mature on that day than they were at 12. Many parents treat this milestone birthday in much the same manner as they do other birthdays and completely ignore the significance of reaching age 18. I believe that this birthday ought to be treated with more seriousness than all of the birthdays that came before it and parents should explain the importance of reaching adulthood. After all, the most important job you have as a parent is to prepare your child for the real world and how to successfully function in it.
Instead of spoiling your child on their 18th birthday and enforcing their childlike behaviors and mentality, you should approach it from a much more adult angle. When your child reaches their 18th birthday, the biggest gift you should give them is a voter registration card. They might not appreciated much at the time but the right to vote is the greatest right we have as Americans and the most important responsibility your child will have as an adult. Explaining civil responsibility to your child may not be the “cool” thing to do but it is of vital importance when it comes to the future of our nation.
I worry about today's youth and I wonder why so many of them don't vote. I was raised in a household where the democratic process and our rights as American citizens were highly regarded. I could not wait for my 18th birthday so that I was finally allowed to be a part of that process and cast my own vote. I have to assume that young people who do not vote do so because they lack a respect for the process. As with most things, a reverence for the democratic process and to the right to vote is something you learn at home.
When your child's 18th birthday rolls around, it would be a fantastic idea to treat it as a true entrance into the world of adulthood. The 18th birthday means a great deal in this country and we have, as a society, washed all of the meaning out of it. Changing this behavior can only bring about good things. Instill in your young adult the importance of the democratic process and celebrate their entrance as a participant.
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Article Source: http://www.statssheet.com/articles/article50223.html |
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