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We laugh at men who act like boys – think movie Hangover – while our mothers shake their heads in disapproval. There used to be a time that their scorn kept us in line. Was it really that long ago?

Adults drink the night away and accomplish nothing the next day. We watch and sometimes admire the fun they’re having, and say nothing of the wasted next day. Children spend countless hours staring at the Tele and playing video games. And then we blame the producers and game creators for what they’ve created.

Discipline has been taken out of school and from many homes but we expect children to know right from wrong. Teachers are now “facilitators” but the expectation to teach academics and surprisingly, morals has become far greater.

Should we really be that surprised that adolescence is no longer just in the teenage years but goes well into the late 20’s. Men and women who grow up in stature but act like little boys and girls, as if they weren’t raised to know better.

Here’s a list of problems plaguing my fellow generation of men:

Inability to have meaningful and healthy relationships.

No or vague career goals

A desire to have a man’s body but continue acting like a boy.

Entitlement

Excessive fun to work ratio

Don’t know the meaning of hard work

Pursuing the minimum standard and then…

expecting a trophy for last place

You can’t teach someone who isn’t willing to listen and learn. They think they already know. But you don’t know what you don’t know.



Achievements “men” talk about:

How much they can drink.

How many girls they’ve slept with.

What new video game they just bought (only the 5th one this month)

How they talked their way out of responsibility

A boy can join the Army at 18 and be trained in manly skills to defend his nation. He’ll be challenged to become a better man, but the decision is his alone.

This problem isn’t for males alone. But since I happen to be one it resonates with me more. I think we’ll be facing a crisis, if we haven’t already.

Here’s an excerpt from an interesting article I read called “Dudes! Why guys aren’t growing up.

“U.S., sociologist and gender studies expert Michael Kimmel found a trend of “guy” culture that is marked by the inability to have healthy relationships with women, murky career goals, and the desire not to grow up. After interviewing hundreds of 16- to 26-year-olds across the country he writes about it in his new book “Guyland”. Career aimlessness and beer and porn culture define ‘Guyland’. Kimmel writes about why many young men are trapped between adolescence and adulthood.”



You’ve probably seen this all over Facebook:

This is the right way to grow up and be raised.

Here are just a few from the thousands of comments: “When I see young guys walking through doorways ahead of their wives/girlfriends I want to puke!” “Wish this was true for all!!!” “I did my part, raised my kids this way. Thank God they listened, and so will their kids. High 5 to all who are accomplishing this!!!!” “I think everyone that grew up in our era was taught these lessons.” “we just need to pass this on to anyone who will listen!”

We’re not made to be children and immature forever. For men there is childhood and then manhood. Womanhood for girls. Somehow this in between lifestyle, a nomads land with no responsibility and carefree living has became the norm. More than that, some even boast of it. It is now expected, and you’re missing out on life if you didn’t experience it during your 20’s. Men are becoming real men in their late 20’s or not at all. Boys are running around in a man’s body trying to dodge every responsibility and hard work. Boys are having children and then not raising them the right way.

If you were to Google, “We don’t just grow up. We were raised” the very first result would be Pop star Avril Lavigne’s song called “Here’s To Never Growing Up”. How about the irony in that, and check out some of the lyrics…

We live like rock stars, dance on every bar

This is who we are, I don’t think we’ll ever change (hell no!)

They say just grow up, but they don’t know us

We don’t give a ****, and we’re never gonna change We’ll be running down the street, yelling “Kiss ** ***!”

I’m like yeah whatever, we’re still living like that

But can this really happen? Is this really reality?

In the movies, yes. On TV, yes. In music, yes. Apparently.

In real life, no…

This is as much of a fantasy world as me getting a roster spot on the Chicago Bears. Yet many never wake up from it. This crisis might appear to have happened overnight. But it was far slower then this. Slow enough that it has almost caught us by surprise. I would venture to say that this occurred in a series of events spanning generations. It is my opinion that one of these errors was taking God out of everything. Our dollar bills are probably next.

We need to be raised. We don’t just grow up.

The questions facing each of us now are, ‘How was I raised?’ and How will I raise those I’m responsible for?. If you agree with us here at Fearless Men please share this article and help bring back the right way to grow up and be raised.

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“I was raised” picture author unknown