GROWING FREE

GROWING FREE by Joan Bramsch

We often hear the term, "Growing free." These two words evoke a

tranquil scene: a youngster skipping through meadows, wondering

at the beauty of a wild flower and laughing at the wind and the

clouds. The child is never threatened by exterior forces; he

lives safe and protected within his childhood. Wishing only to

be happy and free, the child is permitted to pick and choose his

activities.

Most often, the child, because he is a child, wants only the

privileges -- making the noise, scattering the toys, demanding

unequal time. He cares little for the responsibility of growing

-- making loud noises only out-of-doors, picking up the

scattered toys, sharing the space and time around him. Surely,

children must learn that responsibility is the twin of

privilege. Without the first, the second expands to undesired

proportions; thus, if left untempered, we see irresponsible

adolescents and adults.

Today, many adolescents, soon after the onset of puberty, find

themselves searching for a meaningful relationship with a member

of the opposite sex. Some take seriously their responsibility to

protect themselves against unwanted pregnancy, while others

become unwed parents or victims of teenage marriage. Both

groups, the responsibly sexually active young people and the "it

won't happen to me just this once" adolescent are often

irresponsible to their duties in the home -- unkempt bedrooms,

refusal to help gladly or altogether with family chores. In

short, seeing the job but not doing it. Again, we hear their

demand for mature privileges and their blindness to everyday

responsibilities.

Most times, these young people have been taught to enjoy the

good feelings of a job well done; however, during this period of

their lives they live in a world of self-centered egotism,

unable to fulfill their duties as a member of a family. Usually,

after the seventeenth year, the egomaniac shrinks to manageable

proportions and, once again, the young person can become a

responsible family member.

The young people who have never been schooled in responsible

behavior and the others who grow to adulthood still caught in

the groove of inward adolescence become the misfits of society.

They continually change jobs because they still believe there is

a perfect vocation for them (read: little work, no

responsibilities). Or, like many indoctrinated by the welfare

system, they believe if they are looking, if they are standing

on line, they are, in fact, doing something constructive for

their owe well-being. Many times they leave family and friends

in search of Utopia and, often, they become embittered old

people who believe that they were never given the opportunity

for happiness. Opportunity was always there, right in front of

their eyes, only they looked but did not see.

Now this is not to say that searching for one's place in this

world is not good. The searching can be done responsibly. But

one must remember that happiness can never be found in the

outward -- happiness is found within. Each of us has a

responsibility to be happy. It certainly isn't an easy task.

Every day cannot be joyous. We must have some pain or else we

can never fully savor the delicious taste of success.

It is a privilege and a responsibility to live each day to the

best of our ability. No one owes us happiness. No one can make

us happy but the Power to Be and the ability to be happy that

lies within. We each have the responsibility for our own welfare

and happiness. It's the only way to grow "free" in society.

READ MORE: http://joanbramsch.com eens/growfree.shtml

About the author:

JOAN BRAMSCH is a family person, educator, writer and

E-publisher. Her articles appear internationally in print and

online. Six of her best-selling adult novels - near one million

copies - have worldwide distribution. Her Empowered Parenting

Ezine serves 1000 parents around the globe.

http://www.JoanBramsch.com mailto:hijoan@joanbramsch.com

Buying Pregnancy stuff on the web

US:

At Motherwear you'll find a complete selection of nursing clothes, nursing bras, pumps, and accessories - everything for a nursing mom!

Aaron's Baby Baskets - gifts for babies and new parents.

UK:

Great Savings at Mothercare.com - for UK shoppers.

GROWING FREE

Article : GROWING FREE