Are you feeling strange to hear this? Everyone knows that any individual starts the life journey as a child upon birth. The time span between the birth and adolescence stages is termed as ' Childhood.' This period is spread over 18 years after which the adulthood commences. A person in the childhood is commonly called as a Minor and thereafter said to become a Major. A child goes through the phases of loneliness, innocence, stubbornness, fearlessness, and impartiality.
When a person reaches the senility, the behavior changes drastically. The actions and conduct of the aged people resemble that of a child. The old age, in fact, represents the second childhood of human life. With wisdom and experience gained over the early years, the attitude and aptitude of older people should have matured. But, Why then they put up a childlike demeanor? That might be due to the feeling of insecurity arising from the loneliness, inability to carry on the activities like before, depending on others, etc.
Significant things that show the similarities between the aged citizens and the kids are given here to understand the above phenomenon.
1. Absence of teeth in the first and last stages of human life.
2. Difficulty in walking and movement without any prop or support.
3. Creating distraction wantonly to attract others' attention
4. Pretension of illness to make others care for them
5. Wishing to eat, drink or do anything that is not suitable for that age.
6. Display of silent anger and keeping mum when things go against their liking, and
7. Remain in solitude and avoid any food to express dissatisfaction.
All this show glaring similarities in the behavior that is normally seen in the childhood of any human. Adamant attitude, seeking attention, possessiveness, special care against disease and weakness, and the due respect for age, hate for loneliness, fear of death, etc., are some of the qualities exhibited by the senior citizens.
There is a marked difference between the actions of a child and a senior person. The behavior of the majority children is natural, unbiased, and innocent. However, the conduct of the seniors group is borne out of the selfishness and insecurity. One thing is clear. As a person grows older, the physical capacity weakens and the mental faculties slow down. So, the twilight year of a person's life cycle is the vulnerable period warranting support and care from the other members of the family and the society as well.
