What will it mean now that he is an adult? I am confident that he will continue to seek my advice, but might be more selective in what he accepts. I hope that he will continue to seek my approval, but know that there is more responsibility on me to earn that privilege. No doubt, there will be more times when he won't care if a agree. As that occurs more often, it demonstrates the sign of passage from child to adult. To me this is a natural stage of maturity. The young adult successfully transitions into this stage when he make his own decisions, hopes the parents accepts it, but proceeds forward with confidence with or without their blessing. Women talk about being friends with their daughters. I don't really see that as my relationship with him. We have shared many good times and experiences just the two of us, and hopefully that will continue. I don't think I will ever classify that as friends. As he has matured intellectually I genuinely respect his opinions and solicit his thoughts. After all, thankfully, he has learned a lot in almost four full years of college. Here we are more peers, although I do have a few more years of learning behind me. I am always his parent and he my son and that is the relationship.
As I reflect back on my 30+ years of being an adult progeny of my parents, we have always shared our lives. Over the years it has ebbed and flowed a bit, depending on life's demands, feelings of self confidence and maybe laziness or selfishness. I am sure at times my parents wanted to know more or be more involved. However, they respected me as an adult. Because we live 100 miles apart, we don't see as much of one another as we would like. The phone, email, and recently Skype make connecting easy. We share most things, I find more good than bad, why burden them with my stuff. Over the last bunch of years, solicitation of advice has been a two way street. We seek out and respect one another's opinions, even when we don't always agree. The best part is that there is always unconditional love and support. I hope the adult relationship with my son will be similar.
I do think this birthday more than any other, including when he turned 16 and was about to drive, prompts more fear and worry than any before it. This milestone makes it official that he is preparing to move into this next period in his life. He will come back to visit when it is convenient, not necessarily when school is in recess. But, he will be consumed in his professional pursuits and a social life and a community service commitment. There simply won't be as much time. The biggest psychological change is I won't be the provider (not that I don't welcome tuition relief). Once he settles in and gets a job (hopefully sooner rather than later in this difficult economic climate) he will be on his own. He will be responsible for his own existence, paying the bills and taking care of all of life's chores. Maybe I should be thrilled that I am released of this burden. Truthfully, it has been a part of my identity, as a married team we shared the responsibility of financially supporting our children. (Now we get to worry about retirement.) I, too, am entering a new stage gone is the satisfaction of being a good provider and with it brings fear of change.
The rest of Thanksgiving weekend had two other highlights. Saturday night we threw a birthday party for our friends who knew him since he was little and about 70 of his friends. For this birthday we didn't have to arrange for an entertainer or plan any sports activities. All we needed was many six packs and a few long tables for beer pong. It was great to see so many kids (now adults) who we have known since they were little. The other treat, was that for many years, my son and I had a tradition. Every Thanksgiving weekend we would take out the chain saw and full ax and march into the woods to collect fire wood for the winter. I still remember the first time we did this when the full ax was taller that we was. (his contribution was limited to kindling then.) The week before he came home from school for the long weekend we were talking on the phone and he said, "we are going to do wood this weekend, aren't we, Dad?" We did and he operated the chain saw.
Happy Birthday, Son. Here's to the next phase and starting new traditions as two adults.
I couldn't have said it better. Everything you wrote spoke to me. I see less and less of my son since he's moved out but, when I do see him, it's magical. I often wonder if he remembers the good ol' days when he was the child and I was the provider/nurturer. I've had to learn how to move on and let him spread his wings. It was hard and still is but that special bond between us will never fade with distance or time. You're so right. We are both changing when it comes to roles and responsibilities. Look at it this way, your son is and always will be a part of you. Trust that you've done and good job as a parent and watch your son spread his wings and fly. I know he will make you proud.
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