To a child, adults are perceived as the highest source of knowledge. We seek them out for wisdom even when we don't see it. Then we reach a certain age and we begin to notice adults who can barely comprehend a logical question or answer, without calling the child a smart mouth. This action, typically in the south, is mostly caused by the fear of tension or change. Why is it, though, that adults, who pride themselves on having more knowledge than "children" or anyone under the age of 18, can't realize things? Why is it that Adults are ok with committing hypocrisy? However, what I'd really like to know is why is it suddenly, when I turn 18 my opinion's, my interjections, or my idea's about life are respected? Typing this I can already see people forming their opinion that I'm a typical smart mouth 16-year-old who barely has a grip on life and has no respect for his elders and if I do offend anyone who's reading this, I'm sorry (kinda, not really cause you're proving my point).

Most recently, being that school's starting back, I here all the time "You're too young to be tired." Can we just take a moment to consider the logic behind this? Let me walk you through my daily schedule. I wake up every morning around 5ish. Then I continue on my day to deal with 5 AP Classes. I constantly have papers to write, constantly have homework. I have the right to be tired even though I haven't done physical labor all day and/or am not past the age of 50. Any type of movement is driven by the brain, ergo if my brain is so busy processing the annoyance of memorizing equations to pass a class I'll never need in order to get in a college that'll be worth the ungodly tuition, I don't have time to hear a story about how back in your day children were never tired.

So where does it come into play on whether or not a child is writing this paper? I've been told not to pout because I didn't get my way when I was 5, yet I've seen a 30-year-old man pout for 3 days straight because his favorite football team won. I've been called a child because I threw temper tantrums when I was 9, yet I've seen someone throw things and scream because they couldn't find their shirt. I've been called a child because I've talked to people, yet I've heard and seen gossip by the elders of the church.

I will say, however, that adults are to be respected yes, but if an adult acts like a child, in that moment it's hard to respect their opinion, and usually it turns into resentment.

What separates children from adults? Nothing. I've seen adults that can act like kids and children who can have more common sense than adults. The next time a child has an opinion don't assume they're wrong because they're little. If it's pride, accept the fact that someone with insight can see then. A child, with an opinion, who knows right from wrong, is a gift. So if you've made it through this article as an adult, think logically next time a child has something to say, don't shut them down, sometime, sooner or later, they will be an adult and you will act like a child.