Growing up is hard to do...

A friend and I have been chatting recently about the challenges facing our young people now. Surrounded by information, they struggle to make sense of the never-ending input, to separate the chaff from the wheat, understand the perspectives and biases of that information, and then piece it all together in some way that makes sense.

Apparently, two new life stages have been added to the old four (childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age). Now we also have "adultescense" and "active retirement".

Sara and Jake are fully immersed in the adultescense phase, or the "odyssey years" -- exploring the world and creating the synapses -- through trial and error -- to begin to make good decisions, decisions which will eventually play out over decades.

Sara had a few chances to exhibit adult decision-making skills lately. In one, she behaved much better than a 50 year old man and his wife. And yesterday, she found herself stranded with a broken car, an uncooperative AAA, and a need to get from southern Oregon to Eugene.

Of course, I'm proud of her. And tickled that she still calls me for advice or help. But mainly, I am at peace. She's safe, and smart, and growing up as a strong, independent young lady.

I am honored to bear witness to her journey.