The primary charge of any parent is to raise their children to become independent, responsible adults. Throughout the various stages of parenthood, this can seem like an impossible task! Whether they are in diapers or in college, kids can present innumerable challenges on their path to becoming self-sustaining members of society. They disregard authority, they make poor decisions, they hang out with negative influences, and they pursue interests nobody else seems to understand.
Despite the obstacles on the way to successful parenthood, it truly is possible to stay the course and watch your son or daughter become a mature, grown-up human being. Though it may seem like a complicated mission with too many variables, there are actually a few key lessons to teach, that incorporate the most important elements of being a fully functioning member of adult culture.
Show Action Accountability
Every human being should be held accountable for their actions, and teenagers are no exception. The idea of accountability can be difficult to explain in simple terms, yet it is the founding concept behind the justice system, and why capitalism led America to such a rapid rise on the global scene. The subject is simply the thought that if someone does something bad, there should be consequences, and if someone does something good, there should be benefits. Sometimes, the effect is inherent: If you stub you toe, it hurts; if you write a best-selling novel, you earn money. But, and this is the tricky part, sometimes we call upon people to hold the actions of others accountable. This is why we have policeman ensuring that criminals do not continue to participate in destructive activities, why we have a system of government that can remove the President if he or she abuses their power, and why parents are able to appropriately discipline their children.
Instill Fiscal Awareness
Hardly any adult can deny the profound importance of money in the life of an adult in the workforce. Without a sustaining level of income, we can find ourselves without food, health, housing, and other life essentials. While it is true that some get away with rich spouses or live off their parents’ trust funds, these are definitely the exceptions, not the rule. Teenagers should be aware that success in life, and a good job, are much more likely to be found through a significant investment of time and hard work. This is a great transition into explaining the essential nature of a proper education. In order to drive the point home, consider encouraging them to get a part-time job, which can be a very valuable experience for a teenager.
Teach Time Management
In present-day culture, we live in an age where the Internet offers literally endless forms of mindless entertainment, video game consoles have nearly perfected the gaming experience, and even our phones have become multimedia communication social media devices. If a person really wanted to, they could spend their entire life texting, viewing funny videos, and reading random articles. This, however, is not the lifestyle of a responsible adult. Some teenagers may even feel a form of information overload as they cope with the endless digital data they encounter from an expanded social web, but it is of monumental importance that they understand that someday they will have to choose priorities and live accordingly.
After all, as a parent, you know that there is no longer time to send a thousand texts a day or spend two hours on YouTube every night! And this is perhaps the brilliant part: In teaching your teenager that they do not need to pursue the endless possibilities, you are actually enabling them to achieve even more freedom. Now, they are free to pursue education and healthy friendships as their priorities, which will put them on an excellent start to becoming a responsible adult. They cannot own a home, raise a family, or achieve contentment without these few integral lessons or without the guidance of a supportive parent!
