Parenting Doesn’t End When They Turn 18

Some of us younger parents can be pretty naive. While we are deep in moments of parenting frustrations, we can sometimes think to ourselves that we are ready for our children to hit that 18 year old mark. We are ready for them to not be quite so dependent on us for everything. We can sometimes think that once they leave the house, it is no longer be our job to parent any longer, but we have it all wrong.

My family and I were visiting my parents the other weekend. For some reason this allergy season has been extra brutal! I got up early one morning after a rough night unable to breath well. My mom heard me struggling as I was walking into their living room and she immediately got up out of her bed and came to talk to me. Moments later after our conversation, her and my dad were getting ready to go out just to get medication for me. My dad covered me up with a blanket and they both encouraged me to rest while my husband and girls were still sleeping.  

Have you ever had a moment like that? A moment past the age of 18 that your parents were there for you in some way? I'm sure you could come up with multiple sweet scenarios just like mine, and that's because parenting doesn't end at 18.  Let's begin with the first time you get ready to move out of their house...if that actually happens at 18 that is.

They are there to help you find your new apartment, the possible roommates that will suit you best, and either help you move themselves or help you find a great moving company that will do it for you.  

In college, they are either helping you out financially or helping you find scholarships to help cover some of the costs. They are also there to help you choose the right college for you. Don't forget the most important part, those constant random calls throughout the day and night asking for help with school. While they might help with grammar on an English paper or a math problem that's way over your head, you can bet on them shelling out all the encouragement to push through all the difficult times. Reminding you that you can do it and do it well.  

Eventually the time comes for you to get married. They are there helping you plan to lessen the load, because anyone who's married knows it's a big load to carry. They are there to help organize and also remind you that if your bridal party isn't on board for something that it's okay to find someone else. When the actual day comes, they are there to bless you on your new journey with your spouse. At the reception you can find them out on the dance floor with you dancing to whatever song you choose, even if you choose a silly choreographed dance that requires a bit of bravery, like I asked my dad to do for me.  

When you become a parent yourself, they are there to babysit when they can so you and your spouse can get a date night. They are there after you get home from the hospital to help cook or clean (if you allow them to that is). They even take all the millions of phone calls and texts helping you answer parenting questions, because let's be honest, we literally have no idea what we are doing.  If there is ever a moment where you need some extra hands to help get things done, they are always the first ones to donate their time, because all they wanna do is help their children whenever possible.  

Even when life throws us all kinds of curveballs like a broken heart, some sort of mental or physical illness, infertility or miscarriage, or anything else that leaves us scared and weak, they are there with open arms, ready to love and serve us.  

Parents have chosen at birth to always be loving and supportive. Whether that support be in prayer, in words of encouragement, with finances, or with tough love. Parenting, though difficult at times, is a lifelong commitment that is worth every bit of energy!