My View in Redefining Adulthood
This is a very important topic, and I'm happy it's brought up for discussion. Seriously, if I had my power, I would have made adjustments to the age our Nigerian parents start seeing their children as adults and should start feeding for themselves. The guys suffer this the most, and the majority that don't stay with their parents, both females and males, go through the same experience.
Maybe there wouldn't have been any problem if one is 18 years and there are opportunities and probably done with school and is self-employed. How can someone who is 18 in Nigeria be considered to be an adult? Adult in age alone as there is no form of achievement to back that adulthood up.
It's at this age that some just finished secondary school or are planning to get into a higher institution. Because parents feel since my son or daughter is now entitled to enjoy the same liberty I enjoy, that means she's matured. During the last presidential election, I went to a shop close to our house to purchase something when I saw the seller was already dressed and was about heading to her polling unit.
Her daughter who was also dressed requested transport to her own unit, and her mum's response was, "you wan go vote and you no get money. If I can go and vote and I have money, you too should have money to go and vote. I don't have any money for you, madam." That was the end of discussion, and she hurried away. I just jokingly told her to support her daughter so her vote can count. I got what I wanted and left.
This is exactly what many are going through in our country. Once you get to 18, parents conclude you are mature enough to get yourself all the basic needs, and I ask should these young souls go and steal to do these?
They are just done with school, either trying to write JAMB or waiting for their WAEC. This looks like one of the reasons we don't produce good academia like in the past. Many are interested in what to do to be independent because mummy and daddy now find making provision for their needs as a burden.
For me, if I'm to make that decision, I would say at the age of 24 is okay for one not to be considered to be a minor. At this age, one must have been exposed and understand life to a certain level. By then, some would be done with school or close to and can stand up to make certain life decisions without fear.
Maturity is not in age; some people can start exhibiting adult characteristics even before 18 years. So many things can influence our level of maturity at our different ages.
Factors that boost our maturity even before adulthood include the kind of family one is brought up from. This is very important as it has a great part to play in raising matured and responsible individuals.
I know as individuals, we are entitled to our opinions. This is my thoughts on the Hive Learners’ prompt.
Most parents are the reason why their children go into certain acts that are not lawful inorder to survive. What that mother was literally saying was " girl, you are now a woman too, go get yourself what you need," that's bad, imagine the lady now chose to do something crazy to get money, who would they blame?
I don't see anything wrong with eighteen, for me it's like a starting ground, you can't just become a boss over night, you need to start from somewhere. 18 will give us enough time to experience life, touching both the bad and good, and gather experience required as adults, before the person reaches 25-30, you would discover that he or she has learned so much. Remember, our bodies are fragile, fifty is most times is the end for many but around that age 18-22 the parents are not supposed to allow the child take full responsibility yet, it will damage them
Seriously, is very very annoying and uncalled for. Transferring responsibility to Young children all in the name of you are now an adult is very very bad of most parents. There are many ways to let someone know you can do certain things without running it on their facing and forcing them to go extra mile.
It is well, thank God we know these things, we can train our children differently atleast
The way parents nowadays see and treat their children is alarming, they expose them to making money at a very young age. Seeing secondary school students feeding himself/herself is so annoying.
Thanks for sharing
My dear. A lot of parents are just like that. Ask me where that woman expected a 18 year old girl to get money for transport to cast her vote. That's one reason many children steal from their parents shop in every slightest opportunity, because they know the kind of parents they have.
It is going rampant nowadays.
May God help us🙏
Honestly, it is very wrong for parents to place responsibilities in their children at early age. It has made many gone astray. Boys indulging in theft and other vices while girls go into prostitution. It's appalling. In many instances, children should be catered for to maturity. I mean such a time where they can conveniently care for themselves.
Exactly, this is what many parents fail to know, once their kids get to 18 they feel comfort and push him or her to get independent whether he or she is or isn't capable.