Growing up, moving on...

My eldest, Abigail is moving in to an apartment this weekend. College classes, work and theatre commitments equate to long hours. The thirty minute commute from home is sometimes hard to find in a busy day and week. So, she will move in with several new friends and begin the next step of gradually "leaving" the family and starting her own.

Sometimes it seems as if this major move has become insignificant in our society. Adulthood is thrust upon the young without much thought for the transition. The consequences may be that the young do not really know what is expected of them from adulthood and the responsibilities that go with it. Therefore, we have adults still acting like kids. Thinking of themselves before others. Few question what they are here (on the planet) for.

While the young now have to deal with some adult themes from an increasingly early age, character and responsibility are not part of the line-up from the institutions and messengers of the culture. If there are considerations for the world they will leave those who come behind, it is usually concluded that the planet would be better off with fewer humans - a not so subtle implication that they (the young) do not have much value. This is reinforced with the acceptability of abortion and euthanasia promoted by society.

The young are always the hope for the future in any society. Families who take thought for future generations do well to remember that stewardship of their children's transition to adulthood should not be taken lightly.