Children Growing into Adults in Marigolds by Eugenia Collier and The Whistle by Benjamin Franklin

Introduction

When do kids become adults? Logically, children can reach adulthood when they are 18 or 21 years old, but their intellectual growth is different. There is a definite age of adulthood, according to our legal system. Legislators have determined to give adult privileges, like voting and drinking, to people aged 18 or 21. However, this does not necessarily show that adults are 18 or 21 years old; nor does it imply that legislators consider them as adults. It is a rough estimate that legislators are willing to settle on because they believed that most people in this age range would be able to manage adult responsibilities. Adulthood begins when you lose the sense of protection that you have had all your life, giving way towards your own stability and responsibility. But perhaps the strongest sign of adulthood is when you have a child of your own, because then you are expected to do everything that your parents have done for you, but now for your own child.

Children Growing into Adults in Marigolds by Eugenia Collier and The Whistle by Benjamin Franklin

When do kids become adults? In the story Marigolds by Eugenia Collier, the kid became an adult by realizing that wrecking the marigolds was immature and harmful. She realized it when the marigolds were wrecked and trashed. One example from the text would be, “I scrambled to my feet and just stood there and stared at her, and that was the moment when childhood faded and womanhood began” (Collier, 1969). This evidence proves that after damaging the marigolds on which Miss Lottie worked hard, she understood at that moment how immature she was, and began to grow towards adulthood. When kids become adults, they start respecting their elders and develop maturity. The narrator grew into adulthood in the story The Whistle by giving her grandmother a whistle after the incident she ignored alerts from her grandmother because she assumed it was only a goat. The narrator then gave a whistle to her grandma then said, 'This is for you, Abuelita. I'm terribly sorry about what happened to you in the shed. I hope you can forgive me” (Franklin, 1779). The textual evidence shows the narrator is terribly sorry for her unawareness and in a case whenever the grandmother is in trouble and needs her assistance, she gave her grandmother a whistle.

Signs of Adulthood

When does a kid show they are getting into adulthood? They have ethics which steer their life choices. They can create more efforts than simply responding to life's choices, and be proactive when living their own lives. In both stories, Marigolds and The Whistle, the children discovered their poor decisions to be immature, but especially in the story Marigolds, the child suddenly realized her mistake after damaging the marigolds that the elderly lady had worked long and hard for. Recognizing and taking responsibility for one's actions is a significant step towards maturity and adulthood.

Maturity and Responsibility

When does a kid become an adult and start behaving maturely? Immature people automatically assume they deserve all the good that happens to them. Mature people see the greater picture and acknowledge the good they have. Mature people have self-control, as well. They do not mess around and cause destruction, or they are not completely oblivious to their surroundings. Mature people do not believe in what is important to themselves, but to others as well. In relation to the two stories mentioned above, both characters experienced a lack of maturity since they were causing damage and were oblivious to their surroundings. This realization is pivotal as it marks the beginning of their journey into adulthood, where they learn to balance personal desires with the needs of others around them.

References

• Collier, E. (1969). Marigolds.
• Franklin, B. (1779). The Whistle.