I wish I had some words of wisdom for ya. Everyone marches to the beat of their own drum, so to speak. I have 2 kids, a daughter that is 25 and a son that just turned 21. My daughter couldn't wait to grow up. She wanted her driver's license as soon as she could. She was my social butterfly. Always had friends. Always wanting to go here or there with this person or that. She opted to graduate highschool early instead of going to prom and walking with her classmates at graduation. She moved out and went to college. At that point is when life hit her square in her face and she faltered, tremendously. She was failing her classes. Got into some stuff and behaviors that she shouldn't have. She failed out. Tried again. Failed out again. Accrued a bunch of school debt that she ended up defaulting on. It wasn't a good time in her life and she made a bunch of not so great life choices and one of them that could've cost her her life (thankfully she survived the accidental O.D.). She struggled with depression, anxiety, panic attacks and lack of self esteem at times in some form. It is NO WHERE NEAR where it once was. She has come so far and is doing so much better now. Not perfect, but definitely so much better. One step at a time. Sometimes in baby steps, sometimes in leaps and bounds. Better life choices, one decision at a time. It all adds up. She is in a good, stable relationship. She has a good job. She just moved into a house (that she is renting but she can say it is hers) with her boyfriend and a friend of theirs. With the 3 of their income they are able to afford it where they don't have to struggle as bad. So they can continue to get in better financial life situations and continue to grow as adults. Now she is doing ok and healthy and most importantly HAPPY. Now my son, a totally different story. He is a bit more socially awkward, reserved. Super smart. A little Aspergers. Has a couple close friends that he tries to keep in touch with since graduating highschool and might get together with a few times a year. He's never had a girlfriend. He's never been on a date. Definitely not your typical boy. He STILL doesn't have his driver's license (which we are going to try and remedy whether he is ready or not here soon). He did have a job a while back and while he worked he just banked money. He worked there for a little over a yr and ended up being let go. He's been going to college full time and will be graduating with 2 degrees (an A.S. and A.A.S) and with $0 school debt. He started with initial intentions of going for a specific path. Now here we are and he has no regrets but he isn't sure it's what he really wants to do. He is just kind of unsure and lost. He's going to have to discover life a little more to truly find himself. Whatever he does, I just want him to find something that he loves, meets his economic needs and to be happy. I fully believe he will be ok but it's going to take him a bit longer. Just a different drum beat. I have a friend who lived with her parents until she was 30. She worked full time. Paid her own bills and would help with the groceries and whatever else her parents needed. Graduated highschool but never went to college. While she worked she just saved money. When she finally moved out, she had enough money for a down payment on her own home, where she lives very happily. Just a different drum beat. My hubby is a highschool dropout that just has his GED. Never went to college except for a specific class to get a certificate for a job at the time or something like that. In the early yrs he job hopped until he finally decided on a field that he was happy with (that he is still in today. Job field, not specific job). It was a struggle but we survived. He currently has a VERY good job and we live very comfortably. Just a different drum beat. That was all to say that everything they went through either helped them or is helping them to make the right choices, at the right times, to get to where they are today. Just keep moving forward to whatever goals you may have. No matter how far away they may seem, you will get there.
I couldn’t say this any better myself. You put it beautifully.
