There is a very awkward time to parent your child. This is when your child reaches the age of legal adulthood at 18. While the child is technically an adult and can legally do whatever he or she pleases, there are still some unclear boundaries in this parent child relationship that typically get fogged up. There is a challenge between parenting the adult child while the adult child wants to be independent. Find out what you can do about this situation as a parent.
Regardless of the age of your child, you can still teach life lessons and give advice. This doesn’t have to stop. What you must to is not be so defensive or offended if your child doesn’t listen to it. Teach your child what you think is best but don’t overreact if it’s not followed.
Make some agreements on college expenses or starting out expenses. Most 18 year old adults do not have the money to just start a new life. Agree on what your child will do to continue getting this money. Let them know that he or she can do what they want but the money does have conditions.
Learn to let go. Your child will make decisions and do things that you might not like. Coming down hard on your child especially at first after 18 will push your child away. They would rather not hear it right now even if you are right.
Trust your parenting. If you have said something 1000 times, your child does know it. It doesn’t need to be brought up and said again and again.
Just because your child might make a bad choice at 18 doesn’t mean it will go on like this forever. Many people are different by 25 or 30 than they were at 18. Let them grow up a bit.
Be open and available for questions. Don’t shut your child off because they are not legally an adult. Still be there for your kids regardless of age.
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