Parenting Adult Children

If you think raising teenagers and 2 year olds is a challenge just wait until the kids become adults. During the formative years, parents have a responsibility for overseeing their child’s choices and actually have an influence on those choice. Parents even administer some of the consequences for good and bad choices. (Prov 22:6; Eph 6:4)

But once the kids are ‘out on their own’ as adults it can get really tough. You may have raised them up with a solid foundation, but adults must make decisions for themselves and have to live with their choices. My wife and I have a discussion often about a decision one of the children is making/has made. My wife’s tendency is to offer unsolicited advice while I take the position that they will ask us for advice if they want it. I believe Godly wisdom is what is important even when it hurts to stand by observe the choices of others. (Deut 4:6; Job 12:12; Prov 1:8). Even with the best intention, advice sometimes flows leading to positive and negative reception…oh well.

This said, the bottom line is that as parents we must raise our kids’ choices up to the Lord Jesus everyday trusting the God has a plan for each of them & us (Jer 29:11-13). This approach will be very frustrating and concerning at times, but remember they are adults who have to own their choices (no matter how damaging). All we can do is pray for them to seek and follow God’s while we pray for our acceptance of His will for them (1 The 5:16-18)