Fledging the nest
The link between a parent and a child (their own child, you understand) is strong, forged from the best virtual steel that nature can provide. Yet, the parent must convince the child (approaching maturity) to check out other living arrangements. It’s true!
Look at the world around you. Don’t birds push the fledglings out of the nest, to test gravity? Don’t raccoons take the little stripers wandering through the woods, just to see what will distract young minds? Don’t pigs eat their young? (I don’t know, I’m asking…)
Humans are more civilized. We convince our children that “it’s time to spread your wings and fly”, or we leave the front door open, seeing which one will wander away. I’ve even heard that taking one way road trips can accomplish much good, in forcing maturity on the progeny. Picture it. The parents buy a used car, drive the kids (as many as can be convinced to come along) to take a summer vacation, follow the triptiks for, minumum, 2500 km in one direction. Then, the parents jump on a plane and head home. The kids, unable to use the GPS (you do have a GPS in your car, right?) have to find a new life strategy. Something like renting an apartment, going to university, finding the local mall.
Don’t laugh; it could work. Until I get a car that can be abandoned, and lose my fear of flying, I’m stuck with leaving the front door ajar. And, just so you know, that’s not working very well. Plus, the days are getting drafty.
