What is happening in your child’s life today? Are they scared of what comes next? Are they eager to move on with their lives away from you? Graduation can be a time of immense joy and immense stress. Excitement bundled with a TON of fear. This happens on both sides of the fence.
Kids are excited to get out of the house and away from their parents and yet they are fearful of what life has in store for them. Can they make it? What does it REALLY look like to “adult”? Is life going to be fun? What does the world look like without the presence of parents around?
Parents are excited that their kids MADE it! And they are fearful about how the “big bad world” will treat their babies. What will the house feel like without the pitter-patter of little feet? What will their life look like without having to take care of someone else? Without being needed? What kind of trouble will my kids get into?
There may be moments when your daughter reverts back to a younger stage and just wants to be cuddled like she was 5 again. Take the time for these! It is important for her to know you are still a safe place. It’s also important for you as a parent to know they still need and want you. This can be a tough transition and there will be both struggles and family togetherness as the parent/child relationship morphs into a more distant connection.
If a “tiff” happens, come back together and acknowledge your stresses and fears to each other. Explore how they showed up in the previous interaction. If any damage was done, how can that be healed? What in the situation can you laugh about? It is important to know that both you and your daughter are going through some separation anxiety and future fear. Give yourselves a little bit of a break and treat each other with the same care you would someone who was going through and emotional event…because that’s EXACTLY what you’re going through.
If your daughter is graduating this year, I would love to hear your struggles and successes. Please share your stories in the comments below.
Keep Rockin’ Your Bad Ass Selves!
Amelia
Bad Ass Daughters 