Forum: Parenting doesn't end when Johnny graduates

In the glow of graduation season across America, many a proud, tuition-paying parent sighs with relief and thinks, "My work here is done." Well, think again, Mom and Dad.

Meet the "emerging adult."

Emerging adulthood is the phrase sociologists are using to help make sense of today's prolonged transition from adolescence. And by prolonged, they mean roughly a decade - from age 18 to 29. Cultural changes over a half-century, ranging from increased higher education to delayed marriage, have produced a new phase distinct from adolescence or adulthood.

Telltale signs: constant flux and a general uncertainty about purpose and direction.

"To an extent matched by no other time in the life course, emerging adults enjoy and endure multiple, layered, big and often unanticipated life transitions," writes Notre Dame scholar Christian Smith in his book "Souls in Transition: The Religious & Spiritual Lives of Emerging Adults."

Smith and his research colleagues launched a major study to understand the role of religion for American youth. The researchers have tracked 3,290 individuals and surveyed them at two key intervals - between ages 13 and 17, and again between 18 and 23.

"Souls in Transition" tells their story. As the title suggests, emerging adults are unsettled about some of life's most fundamental issues.

"Emerging adults are determined to be free," Smith says. "But they do not know what is worth doing with that freedom."

Nor do they necessarily recognize they're under the influence of powerful cultural dynamics that hinder their quest to "stand on their own two feet," he writes. Trends such as postmodernism and relativism are "confusing," "debilitating" and "thwart many of them from ever being able to decide what they believe is really true, right and good."

In the midst of that confusion, continued parental engagement can be an asset (perhaps counterintuitively) to help emerging adults find that path to freedom they so desire.

One key challenge is continually renegotiating what individual identity mea

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	Home - Site Map - This Site Is For Sale Forum: Parenting doesn't end when Johnny graduates In the glow of graduation season across America, many a proud, tuition-paying parent sighs with relief and thinks, "My work here is done." Well, think again, Mom and Dad. Meet the "emerging adult." Emerging adulthood is the phrase sociologists are using to help make sense of today's prolonged transition from adolescence. And by prolonged, they mean roughly a decade - from age 18 to 29. Cultural changes over a half-century, ranging from increased higher education to delayed marriage, have produced a new phase distinct from adolescence or adulthood. Telltale signs: constant flux and a general uncertainty about purpose and direction. "To an extent matched by no other time in the life course, emerging adults enjoy and endure multiple, layered, big and often unanticipated life transitions," writes Notre Dame scholar Christian Smith in his book "Souls in Transition: The Religious & Spiritual Lives of Emerging Adults." Smith and his research colleagues launched a major study to understand the role of religion for American youth. The researchers have tracked 3,290 individuals and surveyed them at two key intervals - between ages 13 and 17, and again between 18 and 23. "Souls in Transition" tells their story. As the title suggests, emerging adults are unsettled about some of life's most fundamental issues. "Emerging adults are determined to be free," Smith says. "But they do not know what is worth doing with that freedom." Nor do they necessarily recognize they're under the influence of powerful cultural dynamics that hinder their quest to "stand on their own two feet," he writes. Trends such as postmodernism and relativism are "confusing," "debilitating" and "thwart many of them from ever being able to decide what they believe is really true, right and good." In the midst of that confusion, continued parental engagement can be an asset (perhaps counterintuitively) to help emerging adults find that path to freedom they so desire. One key challenge is continually renegotiating what individual identity mea Continue reading the rest of "Forum: Parenting doesn't end when Johnny graduates" by Athens Banner-Herald © 2009 http://onlineathens.com - Athens Banner-Herald - All rights reserved. Rate This Article: Comment on "Forum: Parenting doesn't end when Johnny graduates" Your Name Your Comments Verification Code: ZKLCQS Enter Code:		Blueprint: Alternatives sought as funds for fatherhood programs cut After 15 years of working to mend the father-child relationship and help families get back on their feet, Athens Technical College's Fatherhood Program has been discontinued due to lack of funding. Parenting 411 Looking for information about pregnancy and childbirth education? How about car seat and other child-related product recalls? Odds are you can find what you're looking for on the Web -- for free. There are dozens of agencies and organizations whose sole mission is to offer information, support and answers to your most pressing parenting questions. Here are some Websites that are worthy of a bookmark: Forum: Parenting doesn't end when Johnny graduates In the glow of graduation season across America, many a proud, tuition-paying parent sighs with relief and thinks, "My work here is done." Well, think again, Mom and Dad. Concern for baby birds brings back memories of parenting's traumas Looking out the window on an early morning, I saw Papa Robin perched on the edge of the nest. Mama Robin appeared to reach up to give him a goodbye kiss just before he flew off to gather food for his family.