Life is Always an Adventure When You’re Parenting Adults

Those of you with adult children know that parenting adults requires a different skill set than what we used when they were children.

Because of this, now that four of my six children are adults, I am learning to parent a little bit differently.

I have to admit that it took a while for me to get to a place where I felt comfortable parenting adults.

After all, for their entire childhood, I was there as their mother to help them do all the things that children do.

I was right there by their side to help them decide what to wear, what to eat, what to say, and even where to go to college.

But once they became adults, our relationship changed—not in a bad way—it’s just different.

The truth is, our adult children don’t need us as parents anymore; they need us as friends. Once we understand this, we can experience so much joy in that new relationship.

There are many things I love about parenting my adult children. Here are just four of those things.

I Love Conversations With My Adult Children

Conversations with my children as adults are deeper and more heartfelt.

Now that they are adults, it’s no longer me telling them what to do but more of them asking for my advice. I actually really enjoy our conversations.

It’s less of me driving the conversation and more of a discussion on life, choices, and even weddings.

Last month, when we attended three different weddings, it was so much fun to reminisce with my children about my own wedding.

When they asked if I would do anything differently, it gave me time to reflect and recognize how truly incredible my life has been. I wouldn’t change a thing.

I am the mother of six wonderful children who are all good humans. And having four adult children I can talk and reminisce with has made my life even more joyful.

I Love Spending Time With My Adult Children

Spending time with my children as adults is different than the time we spent together when they were children.

When they were children, a lot of our time together involved helping them learn the skills and lessons they needed to be responsible adults.

But when they hit adulthood, my job changed.

Once our kids hit adulthood, our job is no longer to hold their hand but to step back and cheer from the sidelines instead.

As we parent our adult children, we get to watch each one go out into the world and make the kind of difference only they can make.

And while this is incredible to watch, it means that we have much less time together. It also means that every moment counts.

The time we spend together is planned and intentional, but that’s what makes it so wonderful. We plan fun adventures and family vacations, and we enjoy every minute of it.

I absolutely love taking family trips with our adult children. It’s less like traveling with children and more like traveling with good friends.

I Love Watching My Adult Children Date

Watching my kids date as adults is much different than watching them date in high school. Somehow, as adults, they seem a lot more purposeful in their dating.

As a mom, I love seeing the joy in my children’s faces when they feel as if they have met their person.

When we attended those weddings last year, I couldn’t help but think that one day, that would be us. I mean, with four adult children, the odds are pretty strong that one day, a Knego wedding is going to happen.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m certainly not in a rush. But as a mom, it’s something we all think about. We all wonder what kind of person our children will marry.

I remember dating and marrying Rob. It has been such a wonderful life for me because of that choice. I want nothing more than for my children to experience that same joy.

When you find someone you love who loves you back, the world somehow changes for the better.

I love witnessing those moments in my children’s lives.

I enjoy getting to know the people they are dating and helping them feel welcome in our already large family.

Not all of them have found their person, but I look forward to welcoming whoever they choose with open arms and a smile on my face.

We all need someone to love. And seeing my children find that special someone is truly joyful for me.

I Love Watching My Adult Children Grow

From the time my children were little, I have really enjoyed watching them grow. From one inch to the next, we learned, laughed, and played together.

Now that more than half of my children are adults, I no longer measure their growth in inches, but by how they are growing as a person.

It is so much fun to see how some interests have changed, and some have stayed the same. It is also fun to see the growth they have made as they have learned important lessons as adults.

Sadly, many of those lessons have come through struggle, but isn’t that how growth happens for all of us?

And while I don’t love seeing my children struggle, I appreciate the struggle because of the huge growth that comes because of it.

Parenting adults is teaching me that the struggle is a very valuable part of the journey.

Parenting Adults Is a Journey

To be completely honest, parenting at any age is a journey.

It’s amazing to me that every child is different—their likes are different, their interests are different, and sometimes even their opinions are different.

Still, no matter what our ages, we are a family, and even in our differences, we mesh well together. We can laugh and joke around with one another, and there is so much love there.

I love seeing my children interact with one another as friends and mentors. And I love seeing how they support one another as teenagers and adults.

The more I see them thriving, the more I realize what incredible humans they are and how grateful I am that they still allow me to be a part of their lives.

There are so many things I love about parenting adults. But above all, in whatever my children choose to do with their lives, I love watching them find happiness in their journey.

To me, this is the greatest gift of all.