This article explores the status of child as a relational one, defined by the power dynamics between parents and children rather than the young age of the individual. This approach complicates historiographical perspectives on the transition between childhood and adulthood, usually defined by historians as independence from parental regulation. Analysis of family correspondence from early modern England is used as a case study to explore conflicting patriarchal ideals that encouraged individuals to become independent householders, but also venerated filial obedience. It shows the broader application of this research to historians considering age as a category of analysis.

本文探讨了儿童作为关系型儿童的地位，由父母与子女之间的权力动态定义，而不是个人的年轻年龄。这种方法使关于童年和成年之间过渡的历史学观点变得复杂，历史学家通常将其定义为独立于父母监管。对现代早期英格兰的家庭通信的分析被用作案例研究，以探索相互冲突的父权理想，这些理想鼓励个人成为独立的户主，但也崇尚孝顺。它显示了这项研究对将年龄视为分析类别的历史学家的更广泛应用。