Some people believe parenting is for a lifetime while others believe it is until they turn 18 year old or become independent. When I hear a parent saying, “I cannot wait until she moves out and my job is done.” I always question statements like these when I hear parents make them. Honestly this is a pet peeve of mine. I thought being a parent was a lifetime commitment not just for a few years.

While I do know that some parents think that when the child (as an adult) moves out that is when their parenting responsibility stops. I think we all need our parents which also includes parenting from time to time at any age. Heck…I am getting close to my forties and I need my parents to be my parents still at my age. While I only have my dad to rely on, I still find myself relying on him for guidance, support, etc. I can still be a mother to my children and need my parents.

I long to have a mother to teach me how to can food, make drapes, cooking, etc., this does not mean I am not responsible, just longing for some old fashion parenting. Many years ago I was right in the middle of preparing Thanksgiving dinner when I realized I had no idea how to begin to make giblet gravy. Here I was feeling like a complete failure needing my mom to help me, teach me, parent me but she had finished her parenting years ago.

I always want any of my children to know and feel that no matter what age they are if something goes wrong or they need anything even at 2:30 in the morning that I will always be there for them. While I do understand that some parents feel that their responsibilities will end when their children become independent. Does the responsibility really end there? Responsibility can be as simple as helping your child one day with their own sick child, teaching your child a skill that they did not feel that was important when he or she was younger, etc.

Parenting is about building a family. Families should be forever, so should parenting.

More reading:

An Adoptee’s Four Things About Adoption

Book Review: A Theory of Relativity by Jacquelyn Mitchard