אין בית
אשר אין שם מת.

The quotation above really has nothing to do with Jewish concepts or issues. It refers to the plight of the Egyptians during the tenth plague, in which there were dead in every house. The connection is that even the best of families face childhood rebellions. People often express surprise about how a child would rebel in "such a good, wise, or talented family, that does such wonderful things for others...."

But that is precisely the point. Children rebel or leave home in the best of families, just as they may leave malfunctioning homes.

Children sometimes decide whether they are satisfied with their home. Yes, children in some families seem to be more obedient than those in other families. However, it is common to find parents who wonder whether this was the same child whom they raised for so many years.

Did children rebel so vehemently or strongly in the past? We don't have records, and people didn't discuss these events, but we have a gut feeling that the phenomenon has worsened in recent generations.

Today's growing children face questions, doubts, concerns, and feelings about their lives, future, and direction. They may feel that they are locked into an impossible situation. They may want to change the direction in which they are going. They also feel old enough to make their own decisions. These confused, puzzled, annoyed or troubled feelings may lead them astray.

Families that experience these tragedies should not ask, "Why is this happening to me? What bad thing have I done? What has gone wrong?" Instead, they should realize that they are in very good company, and that others, from homes as good as yours, suffer as well.