"As my kids have grown up, I've tried to come to terms with the slow loss of them to the world. While this is the natural order of parenting, it's still hard to accept. They've moved forward, and I've mourned the loss of our time together. Evenings once spent watching shows or talking have become rare. They spend more time with friends than with me, and I've wondered how to remain a relevant part of their lives."
"Whether it's allowing my high school daughter to take over the car radio or television or letting my middle school son pick an activity, I've had to be flexible and broaden my thinking. It's opened me up to new music and genres. My youngest daughter's obsession with Zach Bryan and Noah Kahan has become my own. I've learned every song, and we've started talking about going to her first concert at some point this year."
A mother of four adjusts her own interests to stay connected as her children enter middle school, high school, and college. She allows them to choose music, television, and activities to create shared moments and conversations. Learning new music, artists, and generational vocabulary helps bridge gaps and shows investment in what matters to her children. These efforts produce treasured moments, like singing together on morning rides and planning a first concert. Flexibility and curiosity about her children's worlds help maintain relevance and foster ongoing parent-child bonding despite increasing independence.
Read at Business Insider
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