In the early childhood years, much focus is on milestones and basic needs: is the toddler taking first steps? Have they mastered potty training? Is speech delayed? What does the baby need when he cries non stop in the evening?
But when it comes to adolescence, the picture is clouded. What are the milestones? What’s needed? What can wait? Nothing is indisputable. Unlike the early years, where developmental stages and achievements are meticulously observed, tracked and measured, the transition from early adolescence to adulthood lacks a defined roadmap, leaving both parents and teenagers perplexed.