When Do You Disconnect the Umbilical Cord?

If it were up to many parents their child would never grow up. They would always remain that toddler that can barely walk and needs their parent for nearly all aspects of their life. At this point in life most, if not all, aspects of the child's life are decided by their parents. As the child begins to grow, however they begin to make their own decisions and desire more liberties. So the question arises: When should a parent let their child make their own decisions?

Of course any sane parent know that their child is not ready to go out into the world and make their own decisions about things as soon as they come out of the womb, but some parents do believe that they still are not ready for the world even after they are legal adults. To the government that child is now allowed to vote, smoke tobacco, go to a gentleman's club, and even do time in the big house. But to their mommy they still need to be home by ten o'clock and in bed by eleven o'clock.

Parents should not raise their children one way and then one day decide that their child no longer needs them, rather it should be a gradual process through the child's life. As the child learns how to do things on their own, or gets a better sense of right and wrong they should be granted more freedoms and privileges. For example, a five-year-old child should not be allowed to chose what they or what their bed time should be. They may be allowed to choose what to eat from a list of options but not anything they want. The reason being that most five-year-olds would choose to eat something like "candy and ice-cream" and try to go to sleep as late as they can.