When Your Kids Grow Up: Birthdays, Letting Go & Parenting Adult Children

Today is my oldest son’s 29th birthday, and it has me thinking about just how much birthdays change when your kids grow up.There was a time when their birthdays meant themed parties, cakes, presents, decorations and me doing everything I could to make the day feel special. I’m sharing some of my favorite birthday-party memories from those years, but I’m also talking about the part of parenting adult children that doesn’t get discussed nearly as much: letting go.My son spent the weekend in Chicago with his girlfriend, who cooked for him, surprised him with a custom-made putter and made him feel incredibly special. I loved that for him. But it also made me realize that one of the transitions of motherhood is watching other people become an important part of your kids’ lives and learning that you don't always have to be the one creating the magic anymore.And then there’s the fact that he’s 29. When I was 29, I was married with three kids! His life at 29 looks completely different from mine, which opens up a much bigger conversation about timelines, expectations and why our kids don't have to follow the same path we did.In this episode, I’m talking about the birthday years I loved, what it feels like when you can’t be with your adult kids on their birthdays, learning when to give advice and when to stay quiet, and the thousand little ways we have to let go as our kids build lives of their own.Because raising independent adults is exactly what we wanted to do.It’s just that nobody tells you how weird it can feel when it actually works. ;)And I have a question for you: How old is your oldest child right now, and what were YOU doing at that exact age? I would love to hear your answer.If you are trying to hit protein goals but are tired of eating chicken... how about you give my favorite protein powder a try? https://www.equipfoods.com/jill and get get 15% off your first order with code JILL. Tastes like dessert, but helps you hit your protein goals.