Even as Adults, Your Children Will Always Need You

Your children will always need you, whether they're already teenagers or functional adults. Parental love has no expiration date.

The first years of a child’s life go by in the blink of an eye. Time passes so quickly that only a few years ago, we were holding them in our arms, and now they’re teenagers trying to cultivate their independence. However, even as your children get older, they’ll always need you.

All parents want their children to grow up with a great emotional education and physical health that will allow them to achieve their goals and become functional, empathetic, responsible, independent, and autonomous adults. And, for that to happen, little by little, children need to spread their wings and fly freely. But you must always leave the door open so they have the opportunity to return to the nest when they feel the need to rest.

No matter how old your children get, your children will always need you

During their first years in early childhood, children need the constant care of their mother and father to watch over their well-being. These figures of attachment and family love are all that children need to grow up healthy and happy. So, it’s normal for them to cling to them and want to be by their side all the time.

However, as the years go by and children begin to gain more independence, they stop being the vulnerable creatures they were to venture out and explore the world. It’s during childhood that emotions begin to surface, and tantrums begin to occur, testing the patience of parents.

But as adolescence arrives, it’s common for many children to distance themselves from their parents in order to discover their own identity. This may seem like a natural sign of rebelliousness and individualism, but it shouldn’t be taken as a reason to abandon children. During this stage, and throughout their lives in general, they’ll need the love and life lessons that only their parents can provide.

Paternal accompaniment is for life, even when your children grow up

Life is a road full of never-ending learning, teaching us new things at every turn. Because in this cyclical wheel where time goes by, children become adults, and their parents become elders, we’ll always need the love and support of our immediate family, especially that of our parents, who were the ones who gave us the gift of existence.

And maybe your children no longer need you to accompany them to the bathroom or help them get dressed, but they do need you to be present at every achievement they reach. They may no longer need you to prepare their bottles, but they do need you to teach them how to cook their own food. And just as you used to teach them about emotional intelligence, you may now have to remind them of all those lessons.

Four tips to face the adolescence of your children

Each stage of the life of our little ones is full of challenges and joys that we must know how to face. And it’s no secret that during adolescence, it’s very common for children to start demanding more space and freedom to explore the world. There’s nothing wrong with this as long as appropriate limits are established in order to take care of their well-being.

These are recommendations to help you face the arrival of your children’s adolescence.

1. Build bridges, not walls

Many parents feel that their children drastically draw away from them when they reach adolescence. And, when that happens, it’s very important to know how to respect the individuality and self-esteem of our children in order to approach them with empathy. So, if you notice that you start to distance yourself from your children, reflect on the fact that they must be thinking the same thing.

Therefore, try to build a solid bridge between the two of you that connects you, rather than a wall that divides you. Adolescence is full of many obstacles and harsh realities that can affect many young people. Having the accompaniment of parents and their unconditional love is a great privilege that costs nothing to provide.

2. Connect with their emotions

Look into your children’s eyes and discover in their gaze what they dare not say with words. Stay by their side as a protective guide they can always count on and take a break from the outside world. And, above all, give them confidence so they can feel safe to tell you anything they’re going through.

3. Correct from a place of respect and empathy

All parents were teenagers at some point, and we know that mistakes are a fundamental part of this stage. However, beyond delving into the problems, it’s important that, as parents, we know how to correct our children from a place of respect and empathy to provide valuable lessons. You can also learn from mistakes.

4. Be a refuge of protection and security

Teenagers, despite having the maturity and knowledge to face certain circumstances, are still fearful little ones who need Mom and Dad’s hugs when things don’t go as expected. So, make sure you’re that safe place where they feel protected and can confide their problems.

Even though your children are getting older, they’ll always need you

The happiness that children bring us throughout life is priceless. And no matter how different things are from when they were just kids, adolescence also brings great joys and pride that reward all the effort and dedication.

So, accompany your little ones in this new stage of their journey and dedicate more time to yourself. Remember that parents are the guides children need in order to learn to fly from the nest at some point. So, we must take care of them, but never forget about our own well-being.