During a January 5, 2017 interview with Judy Woodruff on the PBS Newshour,  outgoing vice-president Joe Biden implored the so-called president-elect, “Grow up, Donald, Grow up.  Time to be an adult.”  To drive home this point, an anonymous Tweeter using the handle @MatureTrumpTwts, began posting alternative presidential messages “so they appear to be written by an adult.” (Source: Cosmopolitan, January 8, 2017)

This morning I checked out “Presidential Trump @MatureTrumpTwts.” Talk about a road map for acting presidential.  Here is just one example where the author takes an actual Donald Trump tweet and presents a more mature alternative.

Jeff Sessions is an honest man. He did not say anything wrong. He could have stated his response more accurately, but it was clearly not….

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 3, 2017

I've made truth a core focal point of my admin. If it's determined that my AG committed perjury, I'll call for his immediate resignation. https://t.co/UPjX9qc0pf

— PresidentialTrump (@MatureTrumpTwts) March 3, 2017

Am I missing something? North Korean is testing missiles which they claim could reach U.S bases in Japan.  Congress is considering legislation which might deprive millions of Americans of their health insurance.  OMB is gutting the social safety net to pay for a wall which will likely never get built.  The Russians and WikiLeaks are undermining the nation’s intelligence capacity.  And the individual responsible for addressing these situations is preoccupied with his image rather than the nation’s well-being.

Which brings us back to Joe Biden’s comments.  Asking Trump to act like an adult assumes he has gone through the behavioral socialization most humans experience prior to reaching the age of majority.  Training which includes lessons such as “lying has consequences,” something most parents reinforce through punishment or withholding privileges.  Or “touching a hot stove will get you burned.”  No parent needed.  The act, in and of itself, promotes modified behavior.

What we have witnessed over the past two years is NOT an adult who refuses to act like one.  Instead, we have observed an individual re-living his childhood.  Like any toddler or adolescent he appears to be testing what is acceptable and unacceptable conduct. Unfortunately, all of his surrogate parents have abdicated their responsibility to ensure bad behavior does not go unchecked.

Trump dishonors an American prisoner-of-war who later endorses him.  He accuses Ted Cruz’s father of aiding a presidential assassin.  Yet, the Texas Senator also endorsed him after a brief brush with conscience at the Republican National Convention.  Ted, good parenting requires consistency and perseverance. Trump re-tweets an anti-Semitic meme and his Orthodox Jewish daughter and son-in-law look the other way.  He mocks a disabled journalist and his supporters accept his claim to be imitating  “groveling,” not a physical malady.

Joe, I think the world of you, but this time you’re wrong.  Trump is not an adult who is making a choice BETWEEN right and wrong.  He is still a child trying to figure out WHAT is right and wrong.  And those best suited to help him through this arrested phase of his personal development are failing.

Where is Dr. Spock when we really need him?

For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP