I’m Grown!

“I can’t wait to be eighteen so I can leave this house!”

This is the declaration that usually follows most teenage temper tantrums during or after an argument with parents. Don’t roll your eyes; I’m only speaking the truth. It is during the transitional teenage years that your most confident adults—especially parents—treat you like a kid. Mom and dad insist on running your life, and annoying siblings just seems to make a bad situation worst.

I get it. I was a teen too. The ages between twelve and nineteen can be a complex period, but more than that, it can be a time of excitement and discoveries. Chest and hips begins to widen. Voice deepens, and hair begins to grow in places that were once smoother than a baby’s bum. In addition, strong emotions for the opposite sex start to develop. Then there is intellectual maturity, and heighten cognitive capabilities. All of these changes merely confirm that you’re not a child anymore.

So I can understand your frustration with authority and your seemingly readiness to be independent. You want to make your own decisions without your meddling parents telling you “what’s best.” Going wherever and whenever should be on your terms. You want to buy whatever regardless of how expensive, dangerous, short or tight. You believe who you date should solely be your decision—no matter their age.

But here are some things not often considered. When you hastily leave your parents residents…you’re on your own. All of the perks, benefits, and luxury that came with being in your parent’s care will be gone. Get ready to pay rent as well as light, water, gas, and cable bill to name a few. Finding food will also be your responsibility. And if you intend to pursue a college education, your expenses will drastically increase.

Remember that age brings wisdom. More often than not parents know what they’re talking about. They learned from their mistakes and experiences, so they practice wisdom through the instructions they give and the decisions they make; only because they love and want the best for you. That’s why God put them in charge. “For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God” (Romans 13:1).

Enjoy your youth. There will be plenty of time to grow old. In the meantime, listen to your parents and accept their counsel. Learning that you will not get everything you want is a vital lesson for adulthood anyways. The Bible teaches that “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice” (Proverbs 12:15).