Being 18....

18...
Do you remember turning 18?
I do.
I was a senior in high school.
I don't remember thinking too much about it other than knowing
I could now legally by alcohol.  :-)

That is right.
In the state of Kansas in 1978 the legal drinking age was 18.
I could also vote, but at the time that didn't seem as important.

Nowadays becoming 18 is still a huge 

turning point in a young person's life. 

But not in the same way as it was for me.

Caroline turns 18 tomorrow.  

Each time one of my children has hit this milestone I can't help but ask myself 

Have I prepared them for the world?

Have I done all that I can to give them the life skills and tools they need to be successful?

Its hard to answer that question.

Its true that an 18-year-old has more rights.

They also have more responsibilities.  

As an 18 year old you can work without restrictions, 

rent an apartments, buy property, 

and get a driver's license without restrictions.  

However, you still can't rent a car, and in some circumstances get a hotel room.

  

You can sign legal contracts, 

open your own bank account 

and unfortunately apply for a credit card.  

But thankfully this also means that your parents are no longer responsible for paying your bills and meeting your expenses. 

Being 18 means you can legally smoke, but you can not give tobacco to your friends who are still underage, and the penalties for illegal activity increases once you turn 18.  

The legality of having consensual sex with another person under 18 remains tricky depending on what the state laws are where you live. 

(I won't go into the moral issues right here, or right now.)

As an 18 year old you can sue someone in court, 

but you can also be sued.  

If you do commit a crime, there is no more option for juvenile hall.  

The penalties are the same as for any other adult. 

Now that you are 18, you can vote, serve on a jury, 

and if you are male, you must register for the Selective Service. 

There is a lot that goes into being 18.

But here in our house the biggest concern is ...

What do you want for your birthday dinner?

Each child, on their birthday, gets to select the meal and dessert that they desire for dinner.

Its a "take it or leave it" menu night where the whole family dines on the chosen birthday dinner.

As the family awaits the announcement of Caroline's choice,
the anticipation rises.

Will she choose something everyone will like, 

or will she choose something 'healthy'?

The final choice has not yet been selected, but regardless, 

I anticipate a great celebration for Caroline as she makes her way into adulthood.

Do you have a favorite birthday memory or a favorite birthday meal?  Mine was always Goulash and fried potatoes, one of my mom's specialties!

Here are a couple of past blogposts from her birthdays...

http://jbrownflash.blogspot.com/2007/02/remembering-and-memories.html

http://jbrownflash.blogspot.com/2008/02/caroline-jo.html


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