When college-aged kids return home for summer, parents often revert to their old overbearing habits. The transition from a quiet house to a lively one brings anxiety and a realization that children have grown into young adults. Parents must remind themselves to allow their children independence while also evolving their approach to parenting. Establishing daily check-ins can help manage expectations and respect boundaries between parents and young adults, fostering a healthier family dynamic.
As a parent, reverting to the traditional roles when the kids came home from college was easy. That routine is ingrained, a muscle memory rooted in the brain.
I struggled to change the way I saw my kids. It's surprisingly easy to revert to old habits when your children come home, but I had to remind myself that these aren't little kids anymore.
I needed to let go a little. The old curfews or checking Life360 to spy on their locations are not as necessary as five years ago.
In our house, we managed by having a daily check-in. Talking about the plan for the day helped manage expectations.
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