The risks of not marking our children’s growing up

We celebrate babies beautifully - first scans, first teeth, first steps, first birthdays. But then something strange happens. Our children begin the enormous transition into adolescence and suddenly many of us go quiet. Almost embarrassed. And our young people feel that silence.In this week’s Parent Pause I talk about what we’ve lost by abandoning rites of passage and why so many young people are now trying to initiate themselves into adulthood through risk-taking, online performance, drinking, self-harm, sexual pressure and drama.Because human beings have always needed something very simple from the adults around them: “We see you changing. This matters. And we’re here to guide you.”Rites of passage do not need to be grand, spiritual or cringe-inducing. Sometimes it’s simply an aunt taking a girl out for breakfast, a father teaching his son how to safely use a pocket knife, a meaningful conversation, a letter, a walk. What matters is not the performance. It’s the recognition.Many young people today are quietly asking:“Can anybody see that I’m changing?”And perhaps our role is not to stop that change - but to witness it well.Thank you for pausing with me. Take care. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kimmccabe.substack.com/subscribe