Entry #4: Growing Up
You know, I've always wondered when a child stops looking up to his or her parents, and starts thinking of them as an equal. From being a baby, to a toddler, to an adolescent, and to a teenager - we have about four kinds of development to work through before we become an 'adult'. Another question: when exactly are we finally 'grown up'? It seems to me that although adults are older, there are times when they are not always wiser.
Take me, for example - I only realized recently how much I look up to my parents. As kids, we tend to think that our parents are superheroes - people who are able to do anything they want (stay up late, watch tv whenever, go without parental supervision). Even now, I have a tendency to depend on my parents when things go wrong. I have this belief that if anything ever went wrong, they will be able to fix it. I still think that my father can fix anything technical, such as computers and the tv. I still think that my mother will be able to cure me even if I feel deathly ill. I'm kind of optimistic, when you think about it.
So, when exactly do I stop looking up at my parents? I have no idea, I just do. Although we don't have the best situation, I feel lucky that they are my parents, and I know that they will always be there to help guide me.
As for knowing when exactly can we consider ourselves grown up, I have a feeling that I never will. We can kid ourselves that yes, we now have a family, a great job, and a fantastic home, but I don't think these things mean that we've grown up. Sure we've changed since we were kids; we're older and more experienced now - but are we really 'grown up'? If only we had the answers to these questions!
-joy