Jaden Smith believes that he can handle adult responsibilities once he turns 15. According to an interview conducted by The Sun with Will Smith, Jaden wants to become emancipated for his 15th birthday in July.
When speaking of Jaden, Will Smith said, “He says, ‘Dad, I want to be emancipated.’ I know if we do this, he can be an emancipated minor, because he really wants to have his own place, like ooh … That’s the backlash. On the other side, if kids just want to have command of their lives, I understand.”
Will and Jada Pinkett Smith do not punish their kids; they allow them to make decisions for themselves and learn from their mistakes.
“The rule in our house is you can do anything that you want and we don’t pull the parent card until danger is involved. So we are not going to let you do something that injures yourself or will have long-term repercussions,” Will Smith said.
But does a 15 year-old have the wherewithal to live on his own and make the correct decisions? Maturity does come after given proper guidance and learning through a bit of trial and error. Although 18 is the age where adulthood is legally recognized, some young adults struggle with immaturity until the age of 30.
Jaden may be a special kid who matures faster than the average teenager. He has worked since the age of 8 and will co-star with his father in the new film, After Earth. His experiences in the film industry may have forced him to mature faster than others.
On the other hand, it could be a sign of receiving too much, too soon. Jaden comes from a wealthy family and usually gets what he wants, when he wants it. The emancipation plea could be an outlandish request from a teen spoiled by the notion of always having things his way.
Share your thoughts. Should Will and Jada Smith allow Jaden to be emancipated at 15, or is that too young for a teen to live as an adult?
