Who Can Our Children Turn To?

There are currently two schools of thought about the transition to adulthood. There is a group who believe a person has reached adulthood at age 18 and if the parents continue to assist them, they are coddling them. The other group believes that to assist their children after this age is helping them prepare for adulthood by providing them a secure base to explore their options and reach their optimum potential.

I happen to be of the latter belief. I have a 20 year old son and 18 year old twins, a son and a daughter. I have first-hand knowledge that these children are not ready for the financial or emotional demands of adulthood. Personally, I believe we live in a different society where the opportunities of the past are long gone. A high school graduate can no longer be assured of a full time job with a salary and benefits to sustain a family. Quite the opposite.  As of May 2011, 8.6% of Ohioans are unemployed; that's just slightly under 1 million people searching for work!

My oldest son is enrolled in a local college. I am grateful that, as a single mom, I can offer him the opportunity to attend college while I provide food, shelter, and security.  He is financing his own education since I am doing the best I can to provide the basic necessities on my own. My intention is to do the same for my other two children. I am a firm believer in gaining skills for the future, either by attending college or a trade school.

In my research of the states that already have the age of emancipation at either 21 or 23, I have to say the letter from Garry Kemp, Administrator of the Department of Child Support for the State of Hawaii, was the most poignant. In his letter he explains his belief as to the reason Hawaii has had the age of emancipation at age 23 for over 50 years. He states: " Legislation in Hawaii has been beneficial to the poor for many years and there is a strong emphasis on protecting children."

I have often gone over that sentence of the letter wondering why the State of Ohio doesn't seem to feel the same way about it's children.