I have been thinking a lot about Cheryl's Blog on Monday, February 23, 2004 about adolescence and the ongoing discussion on a list we are list sisters on. Maturity is a very difficult thing to assess and stereotyping teens is doing them a grave disservice. Where one person may be very mature at 16, another won't be until 30!! There is a lot that goes into the dynamics of maturity, personality, responsibility given from parents, sibling placement and so forth so saying that a person needs "higher education" in order to be mature enough is foolhardy at best.

I married at 18 (just turned) to a 19 yo. We met six months prior and as we grew to know each other, we knew each other was mature enough and ready for marriage. That was outside of our almost instant rapport... we "clicked" and grew to love each other quickly. I was still in high school when we met, yet I am the eldest of three girls and grew up on a farm, which meant I did all that was required of any son on top of learning from my mother the duties of housekeeping, sewing and childcare. My husband however was the youngest of six and though that may lead to immaturity (baby syndrome), his strong choleric personality provided him with the determination and maturity of a man beyond his years. He already had his first year apprenticeship finished toward his autobody mechanic license and owned two vehicles. I am not saying we were "mature" in all senses as we continue to do so throughout life and through life experiences. However, we were both mature enough to handle the responsibilities of marriage, jobs and adult relationships.

If we learn to live within our means, even if that is less than what we hope our children to have, we learn frugality, strong budgeting skills and do without the extras our neighbour has which we covet. In choosing to raise our family on a single income, we have done without and have grown stronger as a family as a result. We don't need the extra TV (or TV at all), the convenient appliances, or the exciting "educational toys" that beep and blink which are touted today. We need each other and time with each other... all of these take away from that. I am not saying education is not important, it certainly is, but if it is in the way of other goals, then it too can be a detriment just as not enough income is.