Do you find yourself worrying about your adult children just as you did when they were younger? I do. The consolation is: they are adults, not my business, they will work it out. But I do have to “talk myself down” sometimes.
Doh. Of course. Been there; done that; doing that. Heck. I’m 63, my older brother is 67, and I’ll bet you dollars to donuts that our 95-year-old mother still does it too.
They will always be our children ( flashback… “Goodnight Moon”…)
Our roles have changed. Today I did one of my young adult children a favor on some paperwork. I emailed it to her signed, “Sincerely, Your Administrative Assistant”.
My mom (87) likes to say, “Little kids, little problems. Big kids, big problems.” And she tells me that she used to think that when my siblings and I became adults, she wouldn’t worry about us anymore.
When I was closing in on 40, I was visiting my grandmother with my mother. My mom was 65 and my grandmother was 87. My mom went to the fridge and made herself lunch, and my grandmother fretted at her, asking if everything on her plate was “allowed” (mom had diabetes). My mother looked at her, looked at the plate, and said with no small amount of irritation that she thought that by 65 she knew what she could eat. I filed that away, and sure enough, before the summer was out MY mother fretted at me about something.
My older kids are 31 and 26 and sure, I worry about them. I try not to TELL them what to do, but certainly express concern if warranted, and advise them if asked. I’m sure we all do until we drop.
Look at my username. Does that answer your question? 
Absolutely! And I wish I could talk myself down…
I don’t worry about him. I just miss him. 
@VaBluebird, I don’t think the worrying ever ends. My wonderful MIL once told me that by the time you stop worrying about your kids, that’s when the anxieties kick in about the grandchildren!
Yes. And my 88yo dad worries about me.
Well yes, especially when they are living with you.
Definitely yes. Their future happiness, the state of the world they live in, their own inner obstacles, will they find love…and I’m not even a worrier.
I go through the litany. “In the 6 years she hasn’t been living under my roof, she’s gotten a degree, gotten a lovely boyfriend, and gotten a job she loves. She hasn’t been arrested (that I know of), gotten pregnant (that I know of), or been injured in any serious way. She is paying her own way, and is happy.” Sometimes it helps to recite the things she’s done right without my supervision.
I always worry about disaster striking someone I love, especially my children.
And then…I listen to our 29 yr old son run down numerous well thought out medical questions to me about his hospitalized dad and realize that maybe I don’t need to worry so much about him anymore since he’s obviously got us covered!
Yes, and my DH has to talk me down. DS started an internship this summer and will continue to live in that small town. He’s thrilled to have it but wanted to come home as its really lonely there, although he will be busy this summer. As he was driving away, I was lamenting how I felt bad because I knew he really want didn’t want to go back.
DH reminded me when he was in college…and I knew this as we were dating, he spent his summer 5 stories underground at a power plant jack hammering all day as it was being built. It was physically a very tough job, but paid well. I shut up immediately and said you’re right.
Oh, @katliamom - you are so right. Grandchildren bring a whole other set of anxiety…
My D is suffering through a miscarriage, and my heart breaks for her. It never gets any easier.
So sorry, Garland.