Grown Teens Leaving The Nest And Learning How To Fly On Their Own

As a mother who has had children at home from the time I was 18 until my mid 50's it's very hard letting them go to fly out on their own. But my youngest who left less than 2 years ago has really done well for herself, and yet I still find myself trying to give her advice as if she were still at home. It is so very difficult for me to stand back and watch as she goes through life's struggles.  I enjoy seeing her good times but when I see a potential downfall coming or seeing her go through something harder in life, I just sometimes find myself blurting out my opinions. I need to let her experience life and find out on her own, but it's so hard! I find that when I catch myself giving advice, she tells me that she remembers that I already taught her that and that she knows!  I have to apologize to her because I KNOW that she KNOWS, but for me, it's been very difficult letting her go. She doesn't live near me anymore but since she has been in the Navy, and married a Navy boy, she had to deal with new experiences and she calls for my advice, which is good, but I feel I need to stand back a bit more and allow her wings to spread and learn. Why does it have to be so hard when our children grow up and leave home?

Having A Grown-Up Teen

So much time has passed and my baby, yes, she's still my baby, is grown up now. Graduated from high school, and immediately went into the Navy. She's been learning to do her thing and she met a very nice guy and got married. Still a teen, my dear darling daughter got married to a Navy guy. He is her same age and they are great together....and I love him dearly. I have seen how he treats my daughter and I am glad that she chose someone who allows her to be herself, someone who is always looking out for her betterment, and someone who has many of the same views that she does. Oh, this mother is so happy and proud, but now my baby no longer is single. That means that this mom takes a back seat and gets to watch as my children grow through their marriage. I hope that this marriage lasts her for her lifetime and I am pleased with how things are going for them.

A Grown Daughter

My darling teen, still a teenager, but now is 19 yrs. old.  She graduated high school last school session and here we are about to start another new school year and this is very different for me! No buying paper, pencils and all those things to start back to school...no clothes or shoes and my life feels quite different. I see families all around me at the stores buying supplies and I miss those days.
 Within this year, my baby girl has graduated, gone off to the Navy, gotten married to a Navy boy...and  she is VERY happy and I am happy for her, but she lives far away now and I miss having her here.
We still have our horse and I hear  from her often but am counting my blessings from God that He gave me such a wonderful daughter to raise.
  Are you close with your daughter? I was close with mine, but always stayed the "mother" and not a best friend.  I found that  it worked best that way for us.  Mothers and daughters can share a close bond....it also helps when they move away and find a new life of their own.