I’d like to write a happy, funny blog where I poke fun at myself for everyone’s amusement. But I can’t seem to do it.
I’m having one of those stretches where parenting isn’t much fun. Not that it’s supposed to be. But lately, it’s been one challenge after another. Kind of has me longing for the days when the kids were little and our biggest worries were so inconsequential that I can’t even remember what they were!
How do you do it? How do you live with two twenty-somethings and one teenage girl and have everybody get along? It must be possible.
Everybody does their own thing — or wants to. And although it’s sad, I do think it’s expected. After all, when you raise kids, you want them to grow into their own lives. Separating and declaring their independence from the nuclear family they’ve grown up with is part of that process — I think.
Or maybe I’m wrong and every other family with kids that age continues to happily spend time with one another? Which is it?
I’m happily accepting any advice!
Hmm..well, I dont know your kids or their situations as far as jobs, hobbies, habits, etc. But my mother was always extremely strict and intrusive (not saying thats what you are) while I was fiercely independent and it led to a LOT of clashes over the years. I think the older we get and the more we develop our own lives and independence, the less turbulent our relationships become and we can now actually enjoy each others company. I moved out at age 22, one month after I got hired for my first full time job and I think it jarred my parents a bit. That was over 10 years ago. After moving, I actually looked forward to visiting “home” instead of dreading the interrogation of every phone call and piece of mail, and where Im going and what time Ill be home. Again, I dont know your situation but my suggestion, as hard as it might be is to “stay out of their way”. They will let you know when they need you. Of course you should talk to them, show interest in their lives, etc but maybe instead of “where are you going?” try “are you going out?” and with the exception of the teen who I assume has a curfew, try to resist asking or enforcing a time to be home. It will show that you trust them enough to be out and about and they feel at ease because they can come and go as they please, like an adult. A little of this would have gone a long way for me growing up. Hope it helps.