Sometimes being responsible can be a difficult thing for younger ones.  As a parent we can try and remind them to drive safely, don’t talk on their cell phone or to text while driving.  We could try every approach possible and still there would be the rolling of eyes, the heavy sigh and then the impatient “O.K.!”

 I’m not talking about a teenager that still lives at home.  I’m talking about the young person in their early twenties.  They have a job, a car and they aren’t living at home anymore.  They think they own the world.  They seldom call home unless there’s been an accident, serious illness or they have broken up with their girlfriend/boyfriend.  I hate those calls!  It’s not that I don’t want my child to call me when something goes wrong if she didn’t I would be really upset. 

The emotions that hit us when we receive a call from our adult child saying they have been in an auto accident are almost paralyzing at first.  Then the adrenalin kicks in and we start asking questions real fast and when we find out that’s everybody’s o.k. we feel relief.  Then we find out it was our kids fault and we get angry.  We know we taught them better and wonder why it didn’t sink in.

Well the thing is, our adult children are going to make their own decisions no matter what we want them to do.  They will act however they want no matter what we taught them.  That’s why the laws and consequences of breaking them are in place. Once our kids are adults they don’t answer to us as parents. They have to answer to society and the judicial system if they screw up. 

No matter how much we may want to protect our kids from the consequences of bad choices, like following to close to the other vehicle and having no insurance, it’s best if we don’t intercede.  Sometimes experience is the best teacher and kids have to learn that they are not above the law or the financial result of their actions. 

Our only hope when these events happen in a family is that there will be a lesson remembered and our kids will change their behavior.  If this happens then we are seeing a growth in their maturity which we can be very thankful for.

I have been told that the worry of a parent for their children never stops.  I believe it. I have also been told that our children won’t understand what we are so worried about until they have children of their own.  I believe that also, because now I am the parent doing the worrying.

For all of the parents out there, be strong and loving, and help your kids stand on their own two feet.