Boys were expected to act like men from a young age. I found it amazing when I was reading about President Jefferson creating the first US Navy to battle the Barbary Pirates. One of the ship captains of one of the only 4 ships in the entire navy was 18 years old. He had been working on a ship since he was 6 years old.

Kids today are coddled and have limited skills and little work ethic when they become "adults". Parents and the government are not doing kids any favors when they prevent the kids from working, from having responsibilities, and from having any consequences to their actions.