Watching a child grow into a young adult is one of the most difficult yet exciting aspects of parenting. It’s as bittersweet as much as it is a difficult thing for a parent to adapt to.
Young adults take charge of their own lives. They make their own decisions and ask less for their parents’ advice. They no longer need to ask for permission to do something. Their lives get busier as they take on more responsibilities such as going to college or work, paying bills, or even taking care of their own children.
It’s a quite different situation for parents. The good news, though, is that they aren’t gone forever; they’ll always be your children, only that they’re older in age.
Everyone knows that adequate communication is critical to maintain relationships and bonds. In the case of grown-up children, below are some simple tips to help you stay in touch on a regular basis.
1. Give Them the Space They Need.
Parenting doesn’t just occur until a child turns 18. You’re always going to be their parent, and part of being a parent to an adult child is understanding that they need their personal space. This space gives them room to grow, learn, and live their lives as a grown-up.
Part of giving a grown-up child space is abstaining from butting into their personal lives too often when unnecessary and making sure to give them room to make their own decisions and mistakes. It’s rarely a good idea to extend your role as a parent into your child’s adult life. Now more than ever is their time for freedom and experimentation.
2. Set Up a Schedule to Communicate or See One Another.
Your adult children are adults just like you. They have their own ways of living. They run errands. They’re learning how to manage things as the ruler of their own life.
That said, the last thing you want to do to maintain a strong bond with your adult children is hound them with phone calls, texts, and plans to see one another. Quickly, this can leave your adult child aggravated, annoyed, and feeling smothered. It’s a good idea to plan certain days or times that you plan to contact them or see them to, say, go out to lunch together.
3. Get Treatment for Hearing Loss if Applicable.
Did you know that hearing loss can cause serious communication problems with loved ones? Not only can it cause impairments with hearing what your grown children have to say, but it can cause bond-destroying misunderstandings and can create frustration and anxiety for both the communicator and the listener.
Given the latter information, it’s critical to opt for technology for hearing better, if necessary, to ensure your verbal conversations with your grown-up children will be crystal clear and that there will be as few miscommunication issues as possible. With the right hearing aides, you might just find that the bond between you and your children is stronger.
Conclusion
Staying in touch with grown-up children seems difficult. Although hard, it isn’t impossible and can be very doable once you get the gist of it. From making sure to give your adult children the space they need, to talking to and visiting them based on a schedule, to getting hearing loss treatment if necessary, there are many ways to amp up your communication.
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