BY PAMELA JO BOWMAN – MESA ARIZONA – I believe this is a generation of deflection. I asked my son if he cleaned his bathroom. He shares it with his older brother Saac. Mind you, he is a 21-year-old man. His response? Saac didn’t clean it either. I automatically go into defense mode to respond to a response that didn’t really respond to my question. What is that?

In the confusion of recent events, real issues have been side-stepped as the “problem havers” have found ways to deflect the real issues by creating side issues that have nothing to do with the real issues. Confusing, no? Mission accomplished.

Maybe they like the drama and confusion their denial creates. Deflecting the issue is to deny you might have a problem. To be fair, it is difficult to be honest with oneself and own what really is. I believe that would require growing up and being courageous enough to recognize your weakness and to choose a different behavior. News Flash! Sometimes adults are wrong. Sometimes we make mistakes. And guess what, that is okay. Being an adult doesn’t require perfection. It requires humility.

What I know is I need to own what is mine and I really need to stay focused on the “real” issue. So Ben, I don’t care if Saac cleaned the bathroom or not. Grow up. Get in there and clean it! It’s yours, so own it.