I'm going to go out on a limb and guess many of the post here are from people who either don't have children or at least don't have adult children.
My child is nearly 22 now and at 18 she moved out of the house and was basically on her own. Raising a child is no easy task and no one is exactly right. In fact, IMO, it's much easier to be wrong then right when it comes to parenting. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. My position alway was when she was too young to know better I decided for her, period, end of story. As she matured and was able to be more responsible she was allowed to make her own choices, within what I considered to be "reason." When she was 18 she wanted to move in with friends, fine by me with the understanding that my door is and will be always open. But the decisions you make and problems you make for yourself are problems you need to solve by yourself. There was a period of time there where she had all the answers and knew more about stuff then I did. I had all the answers when I was 19 too, wish I did now. By the time she reached 20 or so she was asking more and more for my advice. More then willing to help her decide whats the best deal for a car, where to continue school, what branch of military to consider and so on.
It's not easy, it never ends and I wouldn't have it any other way.
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I used to drink to drown my sorrows, but the damned things have learned how to swim- Frida Kahlo
Vice President Starkizzer Fan Club
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