Driving to adulthood.

• Author: Rundles, Jeff
• Position: Jrundles@cobizmag.com

REMEMBER THE DAY YOU GOT YOUR DRIVER'S license? You bugged your mom, your dad, or anyone else who would dare to let you behind the wheel to give you the keys. It wasn't just the driving, it was what it symbolized: that you were growing up and taking on what seemed like the sweet responsibilities of adulthood.

Recently I had the opportunity to be the parent in this scenario, only the punch line surprised me. All in one visit, I took my two daughters to the Department of Motor Vehicles where one got a full-fledged driver's license and the other got her learner's permit. Instinctively, as we were walking out of the DMV, I pulled the car keys out and was ready to hand them over to the first one to speak up. Instead, they both shouted "Shotgun!"--and they took their usual places in the passenger seats. It wasn't just the driving, but what it symbolized: that they were growing up but would rather pass, for as long as possible, on what seems like the awesome responsibilities of adulthood.

Back in the much slower days of the 1960s, we couldn't wait to speed up time, grow up and savor the juices of independence. In these fast-paced times of constant motion, our children want time to stop so they can continue to savor the shield we have built around their lives.

Things used to be so easy. "What do you want to be when you grow up?" was a question with a finite set of answers, and the reasonable expectation was that you could pick one, home in on it and plan your career. Today's kids have to focus on preparing for a life of constant change. There are no easy answers.

My oldest daughter this fall took that test in high school that purportedly measures aptitudes in career choices. We all took it too, and if you ask any successful person of middle age what the test predicted, he or she will invariably answer "Ditch...