In part two of their parenting conversation, Agnes and Ryan look at parenting from the child's side: Agnes's complicated relationship with her mother and the reconciliation before her mother died, and Ryan's mother raising him with an absent father. They also discuss when to step back from adult children, what age children should leave home (both say about 25), the value of failing early, and keeping the marriage strong so couples are still partners after the kids leave.
Takeaways
- Becoming a parent often changes how you see your own parents, and giving them credit can heal an old relationship.
- Letting adult children fail and rebuild teaches life skills that a permanent safety net does not.
- Keep your marriage a priority, because the bond between partners has to last long after the children have left home.
Chapters
- 0:00 Welcome to part two: parenting changes you
- 2:00 Agnes and her mother: a complicated bond
- 5:45 Ryan, his mother and a father who was absent
- 8:30 The Road Less Traveled and choosing who you become
- 10:30 Each generation doing better than the last
- 13:20 When to step back from your adult children
- 15:15 What age should kids move out?
- 20:00 Why failing early is good for you
- 23:10 Enjoying your grown children and their families
- 26:30 Being a friend to your adult child
- 30:30 Marriage versus children: which comes first
- 33:30 Closing thoughts and sign-off
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