Parents start with protecting their children, teaching them to talk and walk and do several other things, training them at every step to face the real world when they grow up and become independent self-confident adults. They start out with making all the decisions for the child and then slowly let them have little choices and later share reins with them in decision-making processes concerning the family. Then, the ‘adulthood’ arrives ever so slowly and yet so suddenly your little ones struggle to build their careers, find a spouse and become a parent. They move away from homes to make their own nests. This time is quite hard for parents who are so longer used to their children’s presence that they feel so lonely without them.

This is the time when they need to realize that what their child is now achieving is the result of their constant efforts. They have to shift from using parental authority with their kids to being ‘friends’ of these new adults. It is a time for a new role. Even adult children need love, guidance and insight from their parents from time to time, though they may get caught up in their own lives and get less time. This is also the time to set healthy boundaries so that your children can know how much of love, financial and emotional support and guidance they can expect from you and where they are crossing the lines by being over-dependent or abusive to you. As children pass into adulthood, the time for independence for both parents and children is very important for a healthy parent-child relationship.

As children start to shoulder more and more responsibilities, they want your guidance and support but also the faith, independence and approval for whatever decisions they make. The society and your child’s life are undergoing many changes and you are the one to establish the line between helping your child and holding their hand. It is advisable to plan ahead for this transition period so that you can face the situations more easily, when the time comes. You need to help your growing child to establish his or her own identity, balance your priorities, find ways to fight loneliness and save for your future and old age while your children need to prepare themselves for financial and relationship struggles, make a career, deal with work pressure and peer pressure and develop their own political views amongst many other things. Only open and honest communication between parents and adult children can assure a functional relationship between them, which is full of love, respect, freedom and responsibility.