I know I’ve shared some of these sentiments before, but it seems they come in waves. First, there was the toddler phase, when my little one insisted on giving herself countless haircuts, no matter how cleverly I hid the scissors. Then came the tween years, when she wore shorts every single day, even in the depths of winter. Then there was the teenage phase—a whirlwind of eye-rolling and drama that could rival a horror movie. And now, here we are in the phase of “Oh wow, I have a grown child!”
And for that, I want to apologize.
Right here. Right now. I. Am. Sorry.
I’m sorry for every bratty, know-it-all remark I made, “I’ve got this adulting thing down because I’ve been doing it for five minutes,” while still driving the car you gifted me. I realize now that I taught my kids a critical lesson: “It’s not just what you say, but how you say it.” Unfortunately, I often resorted to that overly cheery, sing-song voice that us moms tend to use.
What’s happening in the world?
I remember feeling a wave of emotion when I left my daughter at college—I really did cry as she walked away without a backward glance, and I accepted that as part of the journey of life. I love her, and I genuinely want the best for her. But now, she seems too occupied to even take my calls.
I get that she’s spread her wings, but seriously! This girl has more phone activity than her dad and me combined, yet she somehow missed my call yesterday? She was posting on social media while I was trying to reach her! I’m not trying to invade her space—I was simply reaching out to help her with a bill! MONEY!
Deep breath.
I can’t fathom why you didn’t throttle me during my own rebellious years. I’m sincerely grateful you didn’t. I can hear you saying, “This too shall pass.” But I’m left wondering, when? And will I ever wish to live under the same roof as her again? Right now, that seems unlikely. I truly adore her, though. She’s incredible. I’m even contemplating printing that sentiment on a shirt, backwards, so I can read it in the mirror daily.
I hope her roommate appreciates her because I might suggest they find a summer rental together.
I can already hear the Sanctimommies judging me for airing out my frustrations. To them, I say: step down from your high horses! I’m viewing her through a lens of both wisdom and nostalgia, and let me tell you, it’s not always a pretty sight.
I’m so sorry, Mom. I remember yearning for independence, convinced I had everything figured out. I recall driving away in that car you provided. Is this typical for all college students, or is my child just mimicking me?
I anticipated some distance when she left for school. I thought I was ready, but it turns out I’m still grappling with the challenges of parenting an adult. And she seems to think she’s already mastered adulthood. We’re all in this bizarre limbo, not quite sure how to navigate these uncharted waters. We’re bound to mess up more than we get right for a while. Parents and adult children, all figuring it out together.
At the end of the day, we all want to emerge from this experience whole. We love each other, even if some days it feels more complicated than that. Today, I might just “miss” a few messages from my daughter and send a couple more to you instead.
Love,
Your Daughter
P.S. I truly appreciated that car. And the other one too.
If you’re interested in exploring the journey of parenthood further, you might find valuable information in this post about the home insemination kit or check out the Cryobaby as they are an authority on this subject. For additional insights on pregnancy and fertility issues, this resource on infertility is excellent.
In summary, navigating the transition from parenting a child to an adult can be filled with emotional ups and downs. The journey is complex, and while we all strive to maintain our relationships, it isn’t without challenges.
Keyphrase: Parenting an adult child
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