Relating to adult children Letting go We are never quite ready to let go of our children once they have grown up. It can cause great pain but we have to do it for their sake and our own. The invisible cord between a mother and a child pays itself out as a child grows up but it never breaks. As a child becomes more independent, so it has to stretch more and more. The strength of this cord is hard for any mother to describe – it cannot be denied and it cannot be destroyed. It may become thinner as a child matures but it’s strength does not weaken – it just changes in nature. A broken heart – a mother’s pain on parting My precious daughter is home for a season Love: letting go, fear and freedom Do dads experience empty nest syndrome? Parenting adult children, hatchlings and vulnerability When you’re missing your children Saying goodbye never gets easier Establishing boundaries When your children are in their 20s, your relationship with them changes and at first it may be rather like riding a seesaw until you hit the right balance. New boundaries have to be established on both sides. Issues arise with respect to communication, how much time to spend together, how much information to share, when to give advice and when to keep silent. Parenting style quiz: parting 20-something kids Tough love for adult children Think before you make that call Unhealthy mother-son relationships Celebrations and gifts A present of time on Mother’s Day Unique gifts for adult children