Balancing career, parenting, chores, cycling..

[mimitabby]

BMo3
it DOES get easier as they get older (you need to babysit a 2 year old for 10 minutes if you've forgotten.)
You can leave them long enough to go to the store, at a certain age, and then at another certain age, you can leave them for an evening.
I'm not saying that I am not still tied up in knots (sorry Knot) about stuff involving my two sons (with DH saying, let it go, they are 26 and 28 years old)
but guess what? I can leave the house for the week and when I come back everythin'g is just fine!

so yes.. it DOES get easier.

[Bikingmomof3]

BMo3so yes.. it DOES get easier.

Oh good! I have something to look forward to.

[Crankin]

I think it does get easier, too. Yes, the issues of early adolescents and teens/college students are there, but it is different than the stress of little kids. You don't have to drive them everywhere at a certain point, and for me, that was the key to freedom. Of course, with the car and driving came other responsibilities, but somehow, both of my boys got out of high school without any car accidents, drinking or drug issues. In fact, they were wusses compared to what their mom did back in the sixties and seventies. They both had their activities which kept them extremely busy; cycling for one and music/band for the other. I have a really close relationship with them as adults, which I am thankful for. Not stifling close, but they tell me stuff that most grown men wouldn't discuss with their mom. I don't even see my son who lives in Boston more than once every month, but the closeness is there. We always told them that no matter what bad thing they did or what happened, just tell us. I think being a teacher has given me a realistic perspective on kids. I was always brutally honest with them and talked to them about anything when they asked.
So far it has worked. If I could live through my youngest joining the marines, I can live through anything.