Raising Adults

By next week I will officially have two kids in college. One of my parenting mottos has been, “We are raising adults.” And here we are.

When my children were young they took everything I had. The sleepless nights, the diaper changing, the crying, then the whining took their toll. It was a hostile take-over. But gradually I learned to enjoy and relish each developmental season.

Last year, when my daughter left for the first time, the hole in our family was palpable. Unexpectedly, the four remaining family members drew closer and fresh intimacies emerged. New beginnings all around.

“There is life after kids,” I’ve been told by happy empty-nesters in my church. This helps me to know that there is fulfillment, meaning and opportunity post-child rearing. The “hostile take-over” is coming to an end. Thankfully, I still have one more at home to raise. And I’ll never stop watching from afar as my offspring explore new horizons. My “adults” are almost raised and it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.