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When Your Baby Turns Twenty-One
Some things that might go through your head.
It’s a big milestone, that’s for sure.
If you live in the United States, turning 21 means finally being able to drink and purchase alcohol LEGALLY.
I’m not naïve. I’m sure none of our kids waited until their 21st birthday to take their first drink. Most likely, all that changes after reaching the age of “adulthood” is that they no longer need to beg older friends to buy them beer or risk getting caught with a fake ID. Halleluiah! At least those worries will be over after this weekend when our youngest celebrates this milestone birthday.
But my synapses are rapidly firing in anticipation of the “big day.” I’m worried about whether he’ll make good decisions…whether he knows his limits…and whether he’ll be able to resist some of the peer pressure that’ll undoubtedly come his way. It’s not like I haven’t worried about all those things before, but somehow the stress is magnified as this symbolic birthday approaches.
When I get past the anxiety surrounding his birthday weekend, my mind travels to some of the earlier times that he stressed me out: the times he got sick or injured, sometimes requiring a trip to the emergency room; or the times he struggled in school, in friendships, or in sports.
