Wow! I just read some interesting statistics from the New York Times.

There seems to be some agreement that there are five milestones that mark the arrival in adulthood. I’m not sure where these came from, but I can agree with them.

These milestones include completing school, leaving home, getting married, having a child, and establishing financial independence. In 1960, the overwhelming majority of people accomplished all five by the age of thirty. In 2000, less than one half of women (or, more accurately, girls) completed these by thirty. Less than one third of men (OK, boys) did.

• 1/3 of men in the late twenties and early thirties live with their parents
• The average age of a video game user is 35
• The average man changes jobs 7 times in his twenties

This is how boys behave, not men. What’s causing this? Is it parents that can’t stand the thought of not being the center of their kids universe? Is it kids who have been coddled through this time called adolescence. Adolescence, by the way, is the invention of  our society used to explain away teenagers behaving badly and young adults behaving like teenagers behaving badly. When someone is willing to feed me, clothe me, chauffeur me, and make excuses for me, why wouldn’t I extend that even if it means one more graduate degree. Why not be a 28 year old adolescent working on my third degree and carrying my moms credit card.

C’mon parents, cut the cord! What will it be like for your grandchildren if their parents and still groping their way through adolescence at age 40?

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.