At the age of 18 we are allowed to vote, attend college, enlist in the military, and ultimately are referred to as "adults." That is the way its been for years. The age of what an adult is has grown over the years and it apparently is now. Apparently now, we aren't adults until we are 21 or older.

If your questioning what has made me write this I'll tell you real quick. And it surprisingly has nothing to do with the speech Obama gave the night before...or mostly anyway. No, this has to do with a little thing I like to called Facebook, a joke gone bad, and people digging into other people's business.

Sounds like the story of "Mount" Cody from Alabama Football huh?

A buddy of mine was joking when he posted a comment that said me and my ex hanging out was awkward. I put "yeah..." because it had been with the information I'd been given previously by his mom while he was gone. (The ex has been away in the Army for a while now.) Edward's intent was to put "He looks like a pedophile haha," but he couldn't remember how to spell it so he put rapist. It was a joke. Sarcasm. It was Edward being Edward. Now granted, it wasn't appropriate in some ways and not really funny, but everyone says things they mean as jokes that aren't taken as such. Still, I tried removing the comment before i left to go to a celebration dinner with my family.

This apparently did not work because I received a message from the exes mother not long after saying "I want that comment removed immediately. I would hope I have not misjudged your character in thinking that you are a good person." As I said before, I had planned to remove it, but the fact that someone, besides my parents, was telling me to remove something on MY Facebook ticked me off. I got online and told her as much, but also mentioned that I was at dinner and would have to do it when I got home.

And this is when the cat starts swings from the fan.

While at dinner, I am constantly receiving notifications about comments that she has left. They range from comments about my character to his character to her calling a 17 year old names. She then proceeds to email me after I have obviously not responded to her comments. Apparently because I could not be in two places at once I'm a bad person. Then, she forwards me a message attacking Edward and mentioning the "christian way" (this will come into play later). But apparently one to me wasn't enough because she would go onto send two more. One of those contains the line, "What if he goes and gets his foll self killed? Will you say, 'Well that's OK because he looked like a rapist?' " At this point, I am raging with anger at the fact that one, this woman has the audacity to refer to my character during this while she is throwing names and sinking to the level of a 17 year old, and two, at the fact that I have not been able to celebrate this special occasion with my family for such a stupid reason. Mainly for the reason that someone didn't like her son. Mainly because he used his 1st Amendment right and voiced his opinion and she didn't like the opinion.

I removed the comment, but as I've thought about it more I can't believe I did. I got to thinking about a few things.

"He looks like a rapist." Well, yeah, he does. Because don't people that rape innocent people look like normal people? Aren't they teachers, dads, moms, preachers, doctors or whatever else? Aren't they normal people with normal looks? They have brown hair, blond hair, blue eyes, green eyes, all the things that make people people...just like you and me. We all look like rapists. You, me, the guy next door all look like the rapist that might be down the street. We all share common characteristics with the people that are so evil. That's life. That's how it is.

"Christian values." Now it's funny, and terribly ironic, because during this visit this particular son and mother referred to his former ex as a cow. Yep. The farm animal that is very large and produces milk. And, I might be wrong, but I don't think they are talking about the similarity to produce milk when they compared them. Not to mention the judging of this young man that made a bad joke one time. Call me crazy, but I thought the Bible said God was the only one who couldn't judge. And then there are the lies. That's right...lies. The deceit, story telling, imaginative "facts" that were told to me about her son and his feelings for me, and vice verse, because she doesn't like the girl he's with now. I know lying and deceiving are in the Bible...somewhere. In her letter to me Edward she says "The christian way which I'm sure you know nothing about," as if you aren't a Christian, you are automatically a bad person. Really? I know tons of people that don't go to church, pray, or anything else that are amazing people. In fact, they seem to be more real and WAY less hypocritical than those "church goes" I know. (And Edward is a Christian by the way).

I understand being his mom and wanting to protect him. But here's the thing...he's almost 21 years old! He has to be able to stand up for himself, fight his own battles, and make his own decisions at some point. She mentioned if my mom wouldn't be mad if someone said I looked like a hooker. And yes, she would be at first, but then she would probably laugh, and then let me take care of it. But not before telling me I was a beautiful, classy girl of course, and what they think doesn't matter. Much like last night when you, Mrs. Smith*, were insulting me and destroying the family celebration, my mother was very ticked off, but she said she would let me handle it. Mainly because she knows she has to let me fight my own battles or I'll never learn how to stand up for myself. She also knows that calling the other person's parents or grandparents isn't ideal. Especially when you lie again about it.

There is a fine line between being overprotecting and caring. Not everyone is going to like you. Not everyone is going to like your son. We all have to learn and be let go at some point. Maybe it's time you let your 20 (almost 21) year old fight his battles and make his own decisions and mistakes. Advice is always welcome, taking over isn't. And because you took over, and because you had a lack of faith and trust in me, you cost your son a relationship/friendship he seemed to value quite a lot. A relationship that you seemed to value for him. Not to mention, nights that neither one of us can get back. And it all could have been avoided with faith, trust, and realizing that I am not superwoman.

I encourage comments. I encourage feedback. However, this is the last thing that will be mentioned about this. I hate drama...and this isn't even good for anything except fueling a 42 year old mom's addiction for life.

Oh, and if your son dies, it would be because he was a hero...not a fool. I would hope you would know I wouldn't say that. But your son also treated me as a trophy...and still does at times. Don't judge me...because I can throw things right back. I'm done being nice and standing behind things that are wrong. I am now asserting my 1st Amendment right (which you are not fighting for Adam, because it isn't in jeopardy at the moment anyway) and saying what I think.

*Name changed

Throughout time women have proven themselves as strong, supportive, assertive, responsible human beings. Women have stood behind the men that have gone off to war and we have stayed at home with the kids to make sure they know that wherever their daddy is they will always love them and he is always thinking of them. Women stay at home and worry about the men that have gone off and wonder if they will ever see their dads, fathers, husbands, and sons again. Women worry every time we receive a new update about a bomb going off and worry that it might be their loved one attacked on the front line.

Women fight and have overcome through a lot of things. Women have fought for the freedom to vote. Women have fought for equal rights in the work place. Women have fought to be seen as more than a housewife and sewer.

Now, it seems as if women are fighting for these rights all over again. By this I mean women being able to fight front hand combat in the military. Women being able to do more than put a band aid on that wounded soldier. Women being able to do more than hand that man the bullet. I'm talking about women being able to be that wounded soldier. Women being able to shoot the bullet that someone else just handed her. I'm talking about husbands saying "Mommy loves you so much and would do anything to be here with you right now and even though she isn't here physically she is still watching over you."

I'm sure that someone will bombard me with facts about how men are physically stronger than women. That's fine. I actually look forward to it. But, I know the facts. I also know that women and men alike can be as strong as they want to be in their mind.

Women are compassionate, caring, and they fight for what they want. Rosa Parks is a prime example of this. She didn't fight anyone. She simply sat where she was sitting and she won her battle. It was a mental decision that made her strong. A decision that has made her one of the most well known females in history.

Women overcome battles all the time. Women are raped, abused (both emotionally and physically), and yet women overcome and prevail through all of it. Sounds like someone I would want fighting next to me.

Women can teach and deal with the misfits that are in our school systems now a days. Women can be in Law Enforcement. Women can be firefighters. Women can work in hospitals and clinics where they face danger everyday. Women can give birth and deal with men. Women can drive (and don't comment on how that is a bigger danger to the roads.) Women are given the privilege to protect their families and to support kids on their own. So why can women not be given the privilege to defend our country as men do?