A Fully Developed Brain

#TeachWriteober19

Day 10

My bonus son, Hunter Luke Shade, turned twenty-five years old today. Since his preteen years, his dad and I have reminded him often that he should not make any major life decisions until his prefrontal cortex became fully developed. You see, his parents married quite young while they were still in college. His dad was 19 and his mom had just turned 20. Fast-forward 13 years, and as their marriage dissolved, their children were the casualties. Chris and his ex-wife did a decent job getting divorced, but their son and daughter certainly did not escape the situation unscarred. Years of counseling during their early twenties have helped them heal, and I am certain their parents never intended to cause them harm. As young people themselves,  they just weren't able to evolve at the same pace, and as their own brains matured, life presented some insurmountable obstacles. Today, both Hunter and Chandler can express how their parent's divorce shaped them—yet neither kid wishes they had stayed together. 

Thus the reason we cautioned them regularly about waiting until at least twenty-five years of age to determine who they might marry or what kind of career they truly wanted to pursue. Hunter's birthday marks a major milestone for our family. He's a quarter of a century-old now, and next year, we will drop him from our insurance. He and his sister will both graduate from Texas Texas this spring. Hunter will have his master's degree in counseling and Chandler will be a certified Texas teacher. As a bonus mom, I couldn't be prouder of these two emerging adults. I'm deeply grateful for the role I've been privileged to serve in their lives, and as they transition from emerging adults to full-fledged grown-ups I anticipate joys untold. Happy birthday, boy!