Opus 2026-097: What Age Accountability?

This rabbit trail was instigated while watching my grandson roam around the kitchen, singing to himself while munching on a rolled up tortilla which was coated on the inside with butter and cinnamon.  That is his breakfast of choice and since he’s at grandma‘s house, that’s the breakfast of the day.

He seems so unconcerned about the economy.  He wasn’t worried about global warming.  He didn’t even have to worry about his sister because she was home with mommy.  From there, my thought went to pictures I’ve seen of people living in more primitive conditions with a child wandering around naked, pot bellied, and seemingly just as unconcerned as my grandson.  At what age does life begin to press upon them and impress them with the fact that what was ahead of them was work and the unknown.

One of the issues we are facing with a large percentage of the younger generations is that they never had a rite of passage that reminded them they were adults now.  For me it wasn’t going away to college.  It was being drafted and sent to Vietnam.  After that I was ready for life.  I hear how many are still living in Mommy’s basement and expecting her to do their laundry.  It is one thing when a six year old doesn’t worry about where his next tortilla comes from but not so good when they are twenty-six.

Do what you can to help the younger people in your life grow up.  That will be painful but keep in mind that someday you will be dead and the drunk next door does not iron underware.

homo unius libri