25 Reasons I Appreciate Having Adult Children

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As I watched my youngest prepare for his senior year of college, I experienced a blend of parental pride—seeing him grow up is heartwarming—and a hint of the familiar empty nest sentiment. However, I’ve come to cherish this new phase of life, and I believe you will too. While I reminisce about various aspects of raising school-aged children, there are numerous benefits to having adult kids. Here are my top 25 reasons:

1. No more repetitive forms every year. In earlier days, my school district required multiple handwritten copies of the same information—what a hassle!
2. The end of writing checks for various expenses: lunch tickets, textbooks, class fees, and donations, to name a few.
3. Similarly, I no longer need to write checks for booster clubs, uniforms, or those endless cookie dough fundraisers.
4. The days of making lunches that often returned uneaten are behind me (thank you, “I just wanted chips, Mom”).
5. Carpooling is a distant memory—thank goodness!
6. After 13 years of waking my son for school, he now manages to get himself up for college. What a relief!
7. I no longer have to purchase school supplies that remain unused—remember those pink erasers and endless packs of paper?
8. Small talk in the parking lot during pick-up is a thing of the past, especially with that one parent whose child excelled in everything.
9. Buying two dozen mechanical pencils that would mysteriously disappear within days? Never again!
10. I no longer buy clothes for my daughter that she would wear only once before defaulting to her favorite school sweatshirt.
11. PTA meetings have been replaced by more enjoyable activities, as the guilt of skipping them has faded.
12. Back-to-school nights—did we ever really want to be there? Maybe just the new teachers.
13. The anxiety of parent-teacher conferences, where I felt judged for my child’s imperfections, has dissipated.
14. I am free from the cycle of annual check-ups and shots, plus the accompanying paperwork.
15. I no longer drive by the school to check if my child was alone while others played—thankfully, that was never the case.
16. I can finally forget about head lice outbreaks.
17. The stench of daily-worn sports uniforms is behind me, especially those delightful football kits.
18. The middle school drama and angst that once consumed us is now a distant memory.
19. Colds, coughs, and flus have become less frequent as my children have grown.
20. The word “homework” is no longer a painful part of my daily vocabulary.
21. I no longer have to navigate auditions, try-outs, and the endless competition for popularity.
22. Gone are the days of waiting for prom invitations or the stress of asking someone to the dance.
23. The jitters associated with the first day of school and the infamous senioritis have both become irrelevant.
24. I am relieved to be free from the exhausting college application process: essays, fees, recommendations, and the anxiety surrounding standardized tests.
25. College admission anxiety, a condition that could surely qualify for an entry in the DSM-III, is no longer part of my life.

As we adapt to this new chapter, I encourage you to explore helpful resources such as this excellent article on IVF and this guide on couples’ fertility journeys. For those looking to enhance their chances of conception, boost fertility supplements are worth considering as well.

In summary, while the journey of parenting school-aged children was filled with challenges, the transition to having adult children brings a sense of relief and newfound freedom. Embrace this stage and the unique joys it offers.