Thanks, PP. Not OP, but I'm so glad to know that it's not just me!!! |
Agree that OP's child is an adult if they already graduated from college, so maybe 22-23 y.o. But if they are 3rd year college student, then they should abide by OP's house rules. Mom's still kicking in the tuition and living expenses. |
You are an adult when you can stand on your own two feet. |
| This is an anxiety issue that you need to address. Whether your adult child is going out until 1 am while staying in your home or while living in the dorm, the issue is the same. If you can sleep not knowing where he is at college, you can sleep when he is living out of your home! |
He is a legal adult regardless of whether mom wants to subsidize him financially. |
+1 |
| I’m dealing with this with my 18-year-old high school senior. It’s making me crazy. |
|
OP, I also have a college kid coming home, and I also worry like this...but honestly, my kid is an adult with good coping skills (mostly), and as others pointed out, hey, they were doing the same thing at college...
I wish I had better advice besides "try really hard not to worry so much," because I know it's easier said than done, but I don't. |
| PP here. Can you ask them to text you/tell you when they plan to be home-ish? Even if the understanding is that you won't necessarily be awake? And explain that it helps you feel better? My kid has been pretty good about doing this and sticking to what he says. It does help. |
|
This is one of the reasons I could not wait to move out after college. My parents were the same. They would say the same thing.."I can't sleep until I know you are home'.
I get it.. I have kids now, and maybe I might end up the same way, which is why I would ecourage my kids to leave the nest if they don't want to adhere to my rules. |
| You need to let your college age CHILD be an ADULT, but it's reasonable to ask that they are home by midnight if there's a noise they make when they come in. |
| I've learned to sleep. They text me if they'll be super late. |
| OP, I'm asking as gently as possible... what happens after college? When your child moves out and does not live under your roof? Can you think of this as training for that time? It will come eventually and if you work on stress/anxiety reducing efforts now, you'll be better off in the future. |
| I sympathize with you. I'm a really light sleeper, and I CAN'T go to sleep when other people are up. |
|
Generally speaking as I know every case is different--I also wonder if there is a difference if you have a boy vs. a girl.
As a mom of a girl, yeah I just cannot sleep as I worry about her safety. One extra thing of concern with girls is the vulnerability within their own friend group (i.e. guys in their friend group). I mean--totally generally speaking, and also theoretically speaking, since I don't have an adult son...but my friend's son is 6'2" and was on the football team. He's also a level-headed, non-partier kid. My friend doesn't worry about him getting beat up or raped. And I think another aspect is the personality of the kid--if you have a risk-taker etc or not. And even small things: I have one DD who sometimes forgets to shut the garage door or might not lock the front door. But I've got a younger one who is really good with that kind of stuff. |