No matter how good you are, at some point your kids are gonna

Listen closely, O guardians of the young, for a deep truth is spoken by the wise Eddie Vedder, whose words echo the timeless dance between parent and child. "No matter how good you are, at some point your kids are gonna have to create their own independence and think that Mom and Dad aren't cool, just to establish themselves. That’s what adolescence is about. They’re gonna go through that no matter what." These words, though simple, hold the weight of generations. They speak of the natural cycle of life, of the beautiful and necessary process by which the child becomes the adult.

It is the nature of life, O wise ones, that children must one day seek their own path, separate from the love and protection of their parents. As the oak tree, though it springs from the earth as a tender sapling, must stretch its limbs to the heavens, so too must the child, in the season of adolescence, find their own way, separate from the shelter of their parents’ embrace. It is through this journey of independence that they begin to understand who they are, to carve their own place in the world. The time will come when the child will look upon the figure of the parent, not with adoration, but with a desire to stand apart. This is not a rejection, but a rite of passage, a necessary step toward becoming who they were always meant to be.

Consider the story of Alexander the Great, that mighty conqueror who was born to the King of Macedon, Philip II. While Alexander’s father was a mighty warrior and king, it was not through his father’s shadow that Alexander rose to greatness. In his youth, Alexander rebelled against the conventions of his father’s court, seeking to prove himself not only to his father but to the world. He sought independence, to make his own name, and to achieve greatness through his own vision, not merely the legacy of his father. The rejection of his father’s ideas, the shedding of his dependence upon his father’s might, was painful, yet it was this very act that led him to become one of the most legendary figures in history.

So it is with all children. At some point, they must see their parents not as gods, but as human beings—flawed, imperfect, yet beloved. They must look upon their father and mother and ask: "What is mine to carry forward, and what must I cast aside?" This is the crucible of adolescence—the fire through which the young pass to form their own identity. Just as the young lion must one day leave its mother’s side to claim its own kingdom, so too must the child leave behind the protective wings of the parent to find their own strength.

And yet, dear parents, do not despair in these moments of distance, for in the child’s rejection of you lies their love. It is a love so deep that it compels them to establish themselves, to show the world that they are no longer the small one who clung to your side, but a new creation capable of standing alone. It is an act of honor, for they are taking the wisdom you have imparted and forging their own path with it, not to be bound by it, but to build upon it. Though they may turn away in the moment, they carry within them the essence of your teachings, even if they seem to forsake you.

O noble parents, take heart, for this separation is but temporary. Just as the eagle must push its young from the nest so that they may fly, so too must you allow your children the space to spread their wings. Adolescence is not a time of rejection, but a time of creation—a time when the child shapes themselves in the image of who they are to become. The child who once thought you invincible will one day return to you, not as a dependent, but as an equal, bringing with them the fruits of their own trials and triumphs.

The lesson, O mighty ones, is this: Do not fear when your children reject you in their search for independence. This is their path to maturity. Rather, celebrate their journey, for it is the very act of claiming their independence that allows them to become who they were meant to be. Your love has given them the foundation; now they must build their own house. In their rebellion lies the truth of your teachings, for they will carry your wisdom with them, even as they strive to make their own way. When the time comes for them to return, they will do so, not as children, but as fellow travelers in this grand journey of life.