Middle Adult Essay
Introduction
“Being silly is still allowed, not excluded by adulthood. What’s excluded by adulthood is
thoughtlessness, so be thoughtful and silly.” This advice given by Hank Green is just one of
many pieces of advice that a young adult may receive from someone in middle adulthood. For
this essay, three middle-aged adults were asked five two-part questions; the first part offered
these three middle-aged adults to provide advice as if they were speaking to a young adult, and
the second part asked if they follow their own directions. This essay will discuss their advice and
compare their validity concerning the information provided by the textbook. This essay will also
discuss my, the author’s, conclusions on the transition from young adulthood into middle
adulthood using the provided advice and the text's data.
The Questions
1. “If you had a chance to talk to a teen, what would you recommend they do to establish
and maintain their physical health? Do you follow these recommendations yourself?
2. At what point was it absolutely clear that you had entered adulthood? When do people
in your family recognize someone as an adult?
3. What defines a healthy relationship? What roles do culture and values play in healthy
relationships?
4. How can you tell when it's time to change the nature of the romantic relationship
(moving in together, marriage, children, etc.)? Are there signs that indicate it's time to
end a relationship?
, 5. What is the best way to establish a healthy work-life balance? How do you establish
boundaries?”
Respondent 1 – 52-year-old Female
The first person I asked is a 52-year-old female known to me as my mother. In response
to the first question regarding health, she had a few things to say. She stated that outside of diet
and exercise, removing stress and drama is important; she elaborated by stating that life is
stressful enough without adding more stressors. When asked whether she follows this advice,
she stated she only occasionally follows diet and exercise but routinely attempts to live her life
stress- and drama-free. The second question regards adulthood.
When asked when she felt like she became an adult, her response was that she
considered herself and adult when she was 19 years old and married my father; she was forced
into adulthood by shifting the role from a teenager living at home with her parents to a wife
living with her husband. Her life experience was reflected in her response to when her family
considers an individual to be an adult; she stated that the legal age of adulthood is 18, but
mentality and readiness play a role. For example, she stated that she considered my brother and I
do be adults when we started making adult decisions; she considered me to be an adult at age 18
when I began working full-time and taking control of my own finances, while she did not
consider by brother an adult until recently, age 25, when he began doing things without her
assistance and moved out on his own. The third and fourth questions asked regard healthy
relationships.
When she was asked what constitutes a healthy relationship and if culture plays a role
in relationships, she stated that communication and respect are the key factors in a healthy
relationship and that even though she could not pinpoint cultural values, they do play a role.
Introduction
“Being silly is still allowed, not excluded by adulthood. What’s excluded by adulthood is
thoughtlessness, so be thoughtful and silly.” This advice given by Hank Green is just one of
many pieces of advice that a young adult may receive from someone in middle adulthood. For
this essay, three middle-aged adults were asked five two-part questions; the first part offered
these three middle-aged adults to provide advice as if they were speaking to a young adult, and
the second part asked if they follow their own directions. This essay will discuss their advice and
compare their validity concerning the information provided by the textbook. This essay will also
discuss my, the author’s, conclusions on the transition from young adulthood into middle
adulthood using the provided advice and the text's data.
The Questions
1. “If you had a chance to talk to a teen, what would you recommend they do to establish
and maintain their physical health? Do you follow these recommendations yourself?
2. At what point was it absolutely clear that you had entered adulthood? When do people
in your family recognize someone as an adult?
3. What defines a healthy relationship? What roles do culture and values play in healthy
relationships?
4. How can you tell when it's time to change the nature of the romantic relationship
(moving in together, marriage, children, etc.)? Are there signs that indicate it's time to
end a relationship?
, 5. What is the best way to establish a healthy work-life balance? How do you establish
boundaries?”
Respondent 1 – 52-year-old Female
The first person I asked is a 52-year-old female known to me as my mother. In response
to the first question regarding health, she had a few things to say. She stated that outside of diet
and exercise, removing stress and drama is important; she elaborated by stating that life is
stressful enough without adding more stressors. When asked whether she follows this advice,
she stated she only occasionally follows diet and exercise but routinely attempts to live her life
stress- and drama-free. The second question regards adulthood.
When asked when she felt like she became an adult, her response was that she
considered herself and adult when she was 19 years old and married my father; she was forced
into adulthood by shifting the role from a teenager living at home with her parents to a wife
living with her husband. Her life experience was reflected in her response to when her family
considers an individual to be an adult; she stated that the legal age of adulthood is 18, but
mentality and readiness play a role. For example, she stated that she considered my brother and I
do be adults when we started making adult decisions; she considered me to be an adult at age 18
when I began working full-time and taking control of my own finances, while she did not
consider by brother an adult until recently, age 25, when he began doing things without her
assistance and moved out on his own. The third and fourth questions asked regard healthy
relationships.
When she was asked what constitutes a healthy relationship and if culture plays a role
in relationships, she stated that communication and respect are the key factors in a healthy
relationship and that even though she could not pinpoint cultural values, they do play a role.
