March 2022 Monthly Newsletter Cover Article
Celebrate Incredible Kid Day! Once kids turn 18, parents lose the legal right to make medical choices. Protect them with a Young Adult Plan.
Our children empower us. They teach us new things about ourselves and the surrounding world every day. Raising my children has been the greatest blessing in my life.
March 21 is National Teenager Day and March 17 is Incredible Kid Day. While we think about our children each day, the two holidays are intended to remind us to reflect on special memories with our children and how we can continue to raise, love, and protect them. In honor of these special days, I would like to share some reflections I have had about my children recently.
My children are all teenagers now, but I have precious memories of when they were little. I have fond memories of when my two sons were young and our monthly outings to the Southern California Live Steamers, a miniature railroad ride at Wilson Park. The first Sunday of every month was a standing appointment to visit the park for free train rides. While my children have outgrown riding the train, the railroad has come full circle — both of my boys, who are in the final stages of earning their Eagle Scout awards, chose projects to benefit the Southern California Live Steamers as their Eagle Scout projects.
When I think back to my daughter at a young age, I remember what an easygoing child she was. I had to fight tooth and nail to get the boys to take a nap, but all I had to do was tell her it was nap time, and she would mosey over to her crib and lift her arms up, ready to be put in. As a teenager, she continues to amaze me. She recently taught herself how to sew (with a little help from mom and a lot of help from online video tutorials) and, in under one month, has made herself a beautiful dress!
Now, my sons are 18 years old and applying to colleges, which will mark their passage from teenager to young adult, with all the benefits and responsibilities that come with it. My daughter is not far behind.
One tremendous change that will happen on the day one of my children turn 18 is that I, as a parent, will no longer be legally able to make medical decisions for them if they were in an accident or otherwise incapacitated. That is why our firm offers a Young Adult Estate Plan, with powers of attorney and related documents. You can bet my children will be completing their own Young Adult Estate Plans on their birthday!
When a young adult engages us for a Young Adult Estate Plan (which is typically initiated by their parents!), we walk the young adult through the process and assist them in appointing someone to make health care and financial decisions in the event of their incapacity. We are here to help our youth prepare for their future. Do you know a young adult (age 18–26) who may not have powers of attorney in place? If so, please send them to our website for more information.