If you have grown children who are out on their own, it’s easy to feel like you’re no longer part of their lives. But you can still love on them.
Here are several suggestions on how to love your adult children from writer Deb Wolf:
- Pray for them and their children.
- Tell your adult children you love them.
- Forgive the past — even if they’ve messed up – forgive and believe God is able to work His plans and purposes in them.
- Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answer to. Deeply personal questions can come with answers that make you uncomfortable.
- Give your adult children room to grow and grow up. You don’t have everything figured out. Neither do your children. But they’re learning and growing . . . that’s what’s important.
- Remember, it’s okay to say ‘no.’ – They’re adults. You don’t have to say yes to every request for money or childcare or….
- Refuse to manipulate your adult children with guilt. They didn’t call. It’s okay. Maybe they’re busy. Maybe they’re REALLY busy. Give them grace, then remember phones go both ways. Call them.
- Give your adult children the freedom to make life choices.
- Give your adult children freedom over the holidays. It’s okay to celebrate on a day other than the holiday itself. The important thing is enjoying time together not when you do it.
- And Give your adult children a verbal pat on the back. – They still want to know you’re proud of them and think they’re doing a good job. Tell them.