The United States is a very young country, compared to most, at only 234 years old. America, she is like a proud, lovable child. Accomplishing much for her age, she often has taken on more than her experience can handle. Like a child full of hope, promise and dreams she takes her first steps, learns to crawl and then to walk frequently forgetting that she is not alone and it is okay to reach up and take the hand of someone older and wiser, if only for a little while. She thinks she can solve the world’s problems all by herself. As she grows she wants to prove her independence and show anyone who is watching how strong she has become. As a juvenile, prejudice, fear and hatred aren’t embedded into her soul quite yet and she has never met a stranger. Her predator is aware of this and waits in the shadows to steal her innocence and molest her values. Her trusting nature welcomes all into her home but there are those looking to violate her. Still, she has a naïve faith in everyone. America reaches adolescence and it brings a bit more caution and she no longer wants everyone in her class to attend her birthday party, now she is more selfish and only wants to share ice cream and cake with her friends. The teen years display her defiance. She wants to make up the rules without thinking first of the consequences. Her pubescent hormones rage, spirally out of control, but America already has her driver’s license and is traveling a path that has no obvious destination. Her education never ends. She has had so many different teachers and now America learns how to deal with a new boss every four to eight years. She struggles as she learns financial management. Spending more than she can afford, she now learns to budget wisely and she learns she must do without. Learning to sacrifice her wants and desires to take care of only her needs, American is trying to smile but she is bitter and embarrassed at her own behavior. She learns that she works for the company, the company does not work for her and she begins to lose her idealist views of her homeland. Still we admire her strength and independence as we watch her continue to grow. She takes life by the horns and makes her own decisions. American still sits in the driver’s seat and whether we agree with her choices or not… she looks at the map and makes the decisions she thinks she must. Like our own children, America must learn some of life’s lessons by making her own mistakes; but like our own children we love them anyway and we certainly love America!
Article Source: http://www.bizymoms.com/expert-advice
Judie Mackie is a self-employed mother and grandmother. She is also a writer, reporter and editor of SearchAmelia.com. As a child, Judie moved frequently around the country being a military brat in a very patriotic family. She lives with her husband of 20 years on tropical Amelia Island, Florida.