The fun dynamic of having adult children

The AI Blog Post Image Generator still has trouble with eyes (inconsistent coloring, rampant cases of strabismus, etc.), but it got the job done here...I think.

In less than three months, our oldest child Elissa will turn 30. I'm not sure how well she'll handle it, but it's coming.

As a parent, it's natural to experience mixed feelings over such a milestone. Having a kid in her 30s can understandably make you feel somewhat ancient.

I, however, am embracing it. It turns out having adult kids is enjoyable...a lot more enjoyable than I realized it would be.

Like when I go out with one of my children, I sometimes buy them a beer. Just yesterday I was giving them juice in a sippy cup. Now we're sharing overpriced IPAs.

Or when we're gathered around the table for a holiday meal or someone's birthday dinner, they're very free with details of some of the things they used to do as teenagers, the details of which Mom and Dad were not privy to at the time.

(Admittedly, as fun and funny as these stories are, there are moments when I think, "Oh man...I'm glad I didn't know any of this back then.")

A few weeks ago I spent an evening at the hockey game with my daughter Melanie, and I loved hearing her talk about the ways she's navigating adult life. She is so self-aware, so disciplined and so hard working that in some ways I can't believe this is the same person who, just 10 years ago, could never be counted on to remember all of her soccer equipment on game days and constantly needed someone to bring a pair of cleats or a set of shin guards to her at the very last minute.

You know conceptually that your kids are going to grow up, and you hope they'll mature and become independent, responsible adults. When it actually happens, though, it can catch you pleasantly off guard.

You think to yourself, "Wow, I not only love this 27-year-old person, I like hanging out with her. We did something right with this one!"

It's a feeling of vindication you sometimes believe will never come when you're knee-deep in raising toddlers and feel like everything you do is wrong.

Stay strong, young parents. You're doing a much better job than you think you are. When those kids of yours grow up, you'll see what I mean.