Maturity
begins to grow
when you can sense your concern for others
outweighing your concern
for yourself.
-John MacNaughton

Any book or text on psychology will have at least one chapter detailing the stages in human development.

The theory is based on research and observation.

Some of these books are devoted entirely to this topic.

However, in practice parents are not interested in the stages of maturation that are described by the researchers. They want to make sure that their child is no less mature, whatever that means, than any other child. They are prepared go to great pains to assure that their child "improves" his level of maturation.

There is undue and unwarranted stress on maturation, and in many cases, there is not enough stress on behavior, manners, spiritual and emotional growth, and becoming a better Jew and a better person. Yes, all of these goals have been replaced by the need to be mature.

Flowers, fruit, and animals also mature, and people have the same impatient attitude towards them. A nursery that wants to sell its flowers will give them the necessary artificial substances to help them develop more quickly.

Chickens are force-fed so that they will grow more quickly and be brought to slaughter more quickly.

Our generation of instant gratification has no patience for anything or anybody to mature at a logical pace, and it pushes them beyond their needs.

Parents sometimes push their children to get married before they even understand what they are getting into.

Granted, most children do mature later, but it is questionable whether this is a healthy way to go through the process.