Rites of passage

This weekend, the 6 yo rode a two wheeled bike for the first time without training wheels. Is it part of the collective human consciousness to yell, "I'm Doin' it!!"? Anyway, afterwards, we celebrated. First, just he and I, out to eat at his choice of locations, and dessert, which we almost never get. I have decided that as long as I am allowed to be in his life, every milestone will be celebrated. As modern Americans(USAnians) we are woefully lacking in rites of passage. It's my belief that this lack is one major reason for the abundance of immature men in our culture. Lacking the celebrations and rites of passage that make one a man, leaves a guy with no recognition that he is indeed a man. Coincidental to the 6 yo's rite of passage, the 19 yo has moved into his own place. This is his first time not living with someone else, usuallyy a relative. This to is a huge milestone. Although I am told that i should be sad about his leaving, I can't be.He and I are not parting on bad terms, he just feels he needs more space and time for himself, and I happen to agree with him. So many of his agemate friends, the ones he ran with before he left the first time, went from living with their families(parents, sibs) to moving a pregnat GF into their parents' home. Jericho has successfully avoided the single most prominant end to childhood here. he has not fathered a child by a girl he doesn't love. Jericho's move , too, was heavily celebrated. Though at times, he can be very childlike(one of the reasons i feel the way i do about him) He is indeed a man, and I, well, I have to let him be the man he is. And so, we celebrate. Remember to create the rites of passage that society has neglected. It's very important to a boy to know that he is becoming a man, even if he's just a 6 yo who rode a 2-wheeler for the first time.