<p>Chronic worrier here too! Wise words, indeed, patc. As a middle ager with only one child, I worry as my parents age and my D prepares to apply to grad school. My D’s attitude is “I will end up where I am supposed to be”. She’s exactly right and I admire her for this mindset. My dad has always been a worrier too… He once said that he always knew that he would worry about his kids and grandkids, but never dreamed he’d worry about the granddog as well.</p>
<p>I think that you hit the nail on the head, patc. Thanks very much.</p>
<p>You always worry. Until you get old and selfish, then you worry more about yourself.</p>
<p>“I will end up where I am supposed to be”</p>
<p>great line…</p>
<p>I am more of the mindset “failing to plan is planning to fail” kinda person, always was, even at a young age. My son, not so much.
Sometimes I wish I could turn my brain off, between kid worry and work issue worries.</p>
<p>I’m not entirely sure, not understanding much about any after-life there may be and my role in it, but the earliest possible date I’ll quit worrying about (helping/advising) my kid is a couple of weeks after I’m dead. Sign me, UnrepentantParent </p>
<p>Remember what your crazy Uncle Curmie always says, “If it ain’t vicarious, it ain’t really living.” ;)</p>
<p>I think that there is a part of what we call worrying that is simply just caring about and sharing the concerns/joys/difficulties of our children. When they are younger it is the act of being there for them physically: to feed, shelter and keep from harm. As they get older it is the recognition of their trials and choices/ joys and sorrows: our continued witnessing of and caring about their lives that maintains our connection and means to them that they are not alone.
In that way, we all need people to “worry” about us. :)</p>
<p>There won’t be a college confidential parents forum if there are no worried parents. And they can’t stop suddenly just because their kids are out of college.</p>