Day: January 24, 2007

It is part of my theory about life that everyone, no matter how they were raised, spends some time in their life rebelling. By “rebelling” I mean getting all surly with the family, acting irresponsibly and probably doing the opposite of what your parents raised you to do. I think a certain amount of this has to do with conquering fear. When I went through my phase during and after college, I spent a lot of time seeking out dead things and adult lifestyle stuff I found to be very scary and intimidating when I was growing up. I also believe that most people get tired of rebellion or have an epiphany and then go and put their life back together. For me, it was going to graduate school and finding a profession and a husband I love. Hopefully you work your way out of whatever trouble you got yourself into and learn something from the whole experience. I can’t condemn anyone for doing this, but I also think that people should be held responsible for the mistakes they make. Otherwise you don’t learn anything. I bring this up because a friend of mine was talking about his 40 something sisters-in-law who have moved into a new home that they bought together after the recent death of their elderly father. He says they are wining and dining themselves and hitting him up for money and basically acting like wild women. Then he explains that they had been living at home with their parents until this past year, never married and work as teachers in the local school district. And I had an “aha” moment. These women are experiencing their teenage rebellion, only 20 years later. They are tackling their fears about being alone and responsible for only themselves for the first time in their lives. I hope they get through it.