As the parent of adult children, I no longer get to “vote”
about what it is they do with their lives, their children, their spouses, their
career choices, their education, their homes, their spiritual lives, etc. The list is endless and the “job description”
of being a mom at this stage is in a constant state of evolution. As a parent, I am no longer a caretaker,
teacher, and disciplinarian. Instead, I
am a source of emotional support, a mentor, and an advisor. I can not rescue, and I must stand silently
and prayerfully by as natural consequences play out in the lives of my
children. I am allowed to mentor and
give advice only when asked, and then the “vote” is in the hands of the child
to accept or reject what I have shared.
The thing that never changes is the unconditional love. That is truly bittersweet because getting
hurt at this stage hurts more than ever, but the joys are also “over the top”
sweet indeed! How does a parent survive
this phase? Well, this is a work in
progress, but I know for sure that I could never do this alone. I rely more than ever on the guidance of the
Lord through His Holy Spirit to give me the right words, the right actions, the
ability to be silent, and most of all the ability to trust that through Him it
will all be OK.
~Winnie
