How Come No One Is Talking About This
Ah, raising children. It’s the toughest job you’ll ever love, isn’t it? But let’s talk about the elephant in the room here – raising adults. Why isn’t anyone (beside me) talking about this? There’s a whole chapter of parenting that we are just not prepared for – the adult years.
I mean, we spend hours, and hours researching the best car seats and baby monitors, reading every ‘What To Expect’ book, but how much time do we spend thinking about how to raise responsible, independent adults? It’s like we’re all just crossing our fingers and hoping for the best (I know I did).
But here’s the thing, raising adults is hard. Like, really hard. It’s not just about teaching your child how to tie their shoes or ride a bike. It’s about teaching them how to make good decisions, how to handle failure, how to file taxes, and how to be self-sufficient. It’s about giving them the tools they need to succeed in the world without us (eek!).
And let me tell you, it’s an emotional rollercoaster. As parents, we want nothing more than to protect our children from harm. But at some point, we need to let them experience the world for themselves. We need to let them fall down and pick themselves back up. It’s heartbreaking, and impossible to watch, but it’s…necessary.
So, how do we raise adults? Well, I’m no parenting expert, but I have thoughts.
First and foremost, we need to give our children responsibility. This means chores, allowance, and other age-appropriate tasks that teach them the value of hard work. It’s not just about getting the dishes done, it’s about teaching them how to be responsible members of society.
Secondly, we need to let them fail. Failure is not the end of the world, it’s a chance to learn and grow. We can’t protect our children from every disappointment, but we can teach them how to handle it.
Thirdly, we need to encourage independence. This means giving our children the space to make decisions and solve their own problems. It’s tempting to swoop in and save the day, but we need to trust that our children can handle it on their own (this is a challenging one as a parent).
And lastly, we need to lead by example. Our children are always watching us, learning from us, whether we realize it or not. If we want them to be strong, responsible, independent adults, we need to model that behavior ourselves.
At the end of the day, raising adults is a difficult and highly emotional journey. But it’s also one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do. There’s no feeling quite like witnessing your child mature into a self-sufficient, responsible adult. So, to all the parents out there who are raising adults with me, keep up the good work. We’re doing something that not enough people talk about, but that is so very important.