Empty Nest Advice for Moms

I think if someone thinks it’s ok to kick their kids out at 18 then they shouldn’t have kids. Parenting isn’t just an 18 year deal. When you’re a parent you’re a parent till the day you die.

When I was 19, I told my mom I wanted to move to the dorms of the college I was attending. She said I couldn’t make it on my own. When I was 20, she left my dad and they both moved out of the house, leaving me there to pay for stuff. I didn’t have a job at the time as I was a full time student. Once I finished the semester (and made the deans list to boot!) I started looking for a job. That was twenty years ago. My oldest is 18 and graduated high school in May. He has a full time job and just paid cash for a car his Papa was selling. We do not expect him to move out and have been diligent in allowing him the freedom to make his own decisions, offering guidance and advice when needed. He will be paying insurance on his car, money for his phone, and buying things he needs like food for lunches, etc. That’s not to say we won’t ever help, but we also want him to learn how to support himself while he at least has a ‘free’ roof over his head. We’ve also managed to find someone who will help him find a decent rental whenever he feels ready to move out.