We just took our youngest child to college and now my husband and I are in our house alone, except of course for our furry children. Many people feel sadness and loss when their children leave the house. I am sad to see my daughter go, but I am also excited about what her new life will bring her. I have spent many years preparing my children for the day when they will leave home. We were in the grocery store buying products for college. One item we purchased was laundry soap. The young man bagging our groceries heard our conversation about college and as he put the laundry soap in the bag he said to my daughter, "So how many times have you actually done your own laundry?" I was proud that she could respond, "I have been doing my own laundry for several years."
Doing your own laundry may be a small thing, but it is one step toward independence. My daughter can also cook, buy her own groceries, and clean a bathroom. She spent her senior year of high becoming more self-sufficient, after asking us to allow her to make more decisions on her own. She agreed to accept the consequences of her actions and she learned valuable lessons throughout the year as well as growing in maturity.
A Psychology Today article said, "Independence is a gift you give your children that they will cherish and benefit from their entire lives. You can provide your child with several essential ingredients for gaining independence:
Now that my children are independent, I want to make sure to keep myself from feeling lonely and missing my job of parenting. I plan on engaging in many activities, enjoying the bonds of friendships I have made, and building other relationships. I didn't want to be the parent that was pictured in the illustration to the right. I wanted to be able to send my children out into the world prepared for the future, knowing I had done my job as a parent.
A Psychology Today article said, "Independence is a gift you give your children that they will cherish and benefit from their entire lives. You can provide your child with several essential ingredients for gaining independence:
- Give your children love and respect.
- Show confidence in your children's capabilities.
- Teach them that they have control over their lives.
- Provide guidance and then give them the freedom to make their own decisions."
Now that my children are independent, I want to make sure to keep myself from feeling lonely and missing my job of parenting. I plan on engaging in many activities, enjoying the bonds of friendships I have made, and building other relationships. I didn't want to be the parent that was pictured in the illustration to the right. I wanted to be able to send my children out into the world prepared for the future, knowing I had done my job as a parent.
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