Parents whose offspring are adults..

[NMAmy]

That's kind of an awkward start but "adult children" is kind of an oxymoron and just looked weird when I typed it.

Do you still get nervous when your kids are travelling? DD is 19. She's flown on her own a lot--since she was 13. I know she's perfectly capable and yet, I'm still on pins and needles waiting to hear that she's made it to the airport, she's made her connections, she's arrived safely.

I'm not a hoverer and I encourage her to be independent but, for some reason, air travel just makes me nervous. When she's driving for 6 hours from college to her dad's, I'm fine. It's only the flying that makes me nervous.

 

[Missy1961]

I don't have kids, but I think this is a perfectly understandable worry. I know every time I flew, my mom wanted me to call when I arrived at my destination. (my dad on the other hand....). I just think it's natural.

 

[~disneydiva~]

I'm 27 and married. Everytime I go on vacation or anything my mom calls to make sure I got there ok.

 

[mickeymom55]

My son is 24 and just informed me that he and some of his friends are taking a 7 day cruise in February. They will have to fly to Puerto Rico and take the cruise ship from there. YES, I am already stressing about his trip. I would never tell any of my grown children not to go on vacations or spread their wings, but I still worry. I have a terrible habit of tracking flights through the airline websites too! Very nerve wracking - not sure why I do it to myself, but I do. I guess we will always be their parents and worry about them. Just one of the duties of parents.

 

[Phil'sFrontier]

When she's driving for 6 hours from college to her dad's, I'm fine. It's only the flying that makes me nervous.

She has a great probability of being injured on the road than in the air...

 

[NMAmy]

You're all making me feel better. Now that I think about it, my mom asks me to call her when we arrive after flying somewhere, as well, and I'm 46. I guess I come by it honestly.

 

[NMAmy]

She has a great probability of being injured on the road than in the air...

I'm not worried about her being injured. It's more that I'm stressing about her making connections, etc. and not being stranded somewhere.

 

[Rose&Mike]

That's kind of an awkward start but "adult children" is kind of an oxymoron and just looked weird when I typed it.

Do you still get nervous when your kids are travelling? DD is 19. She's flown on her own a lot--since she was 13. I know she's perfectly capable and yet, I'm still on pins and needles waiting to hear that she's made it to the airport, she's made her connections, she's arrived safely.

I'm not a hoverer and I encourage her to be independent but, for some reason, air travel just makes me nervous. When she's driving for 6 hours from college to her dad's, I'm fine. It's only the flying that makes me nervous.

I worry. DS just texted me he's at the airport and through security, and it was a huge relief. He's taking a direct flight this time, so at least don't have to worry about that. But I worry a little when DH travels too.

 

[mom2travel]

I'm 27 and married. Everytime I go on vacation or anything my mom calls to make sure I got there ok.

me too - I'm almost 40 and my mom still watches the weather and airline info when I travel for work or vacation with my husband and kids

I figure if it makes her happy then great - it's easy enough to make a quick call or send a text for peace of mind

 

[Feralpeg]

Absolutely. DD is driving home today from college with another student for Thanksgiving. I will be on pins and needles until she arrives safely. I don't think this sort of thing ever ends.

 

[PatsGirl]

DS19 has flown several times by himself and I don't think twice about it. The first time he had a connection, I was laughing to myself how he'd most likely miss the second flight because this boy can't find his own shoes himself but then I didn't think about it again until he called several days later to let me know he made it okay. Actually, I think he called because he needed something

I was very nervous the first couple of times he drove long distances (2-3 hours) and now he's talking about a possible cross-country trip to his about-to-be assigned base and I've offered to go with him He, of course, just laughed at me. Oh, the delights of "adult" children.

BTW, DS is in the Air Force now so he'll be doing quite a bit of traveling on his own and is learning the ropes...even managed to fly First Class his last four flights!

 

[mskayjay]

My DD will be 22 tomorrow and my DS will be 26 in February. We ALL let each other know when we leave and arrive when we are traveling. There is always a last minute "pushing back from the gate for takeoff! Love you!" and a quick text or call "made it safe and sound! miss you already! love....."

It is just what we do. I still call and do this with my Mom and she let's me know when she travels....she does it with all of us and we are 48, 52, 53, and 56!!!! lol

Its just a good thing and a "right thing" to do!

 

[luvflorida]

That's kind of an awkward start but "adult children" is kind of an oxymoron and just looked weird when I typed it.

Do you still get nervous when your kids are travelling? DD is 19. She's flown on her own a lot--since she was 13. I know she's perfectly capable and yet, I'm still on pins and needles waiting to hear that she's made it to the airport, she's made her connections, she's arrived safely.

I'm not a hoverer and I encourage her to be independent but, for some reason, air travel just makes me nervous. When she's driving for 6 hours from college to her dad's, I'm fine. It's only the flying that makes me nervous.

Oh, absolutely! I have three children (29, 25, and 19) and I worry about them when any of them are traveling. Oddly, I don't really worry when they are actually on a plane and in-flight. It's the getting to the airport and making connections that set my heart racing.

I also worry A LOT more when they are drivng somewhere, and I worry A TON more about my youngest. Probably because she IS the youngest and not as experienced on the road as her older siblings. She is living off campus this year and drives to classes. She also drives three days a week to her teaching jobs at several dance studios.

To make it even more nerve-wracking, she lives in a city that is spread out for miles and has a lot of traffic and pedestrians and bicyclists. In fact, this past Saturday, Tucson hosted their annual El Tour de Tucson bicycle race (over 8,000 people on bikes!) and I sent a text to my daughter early that morning, just asking her to be extra careful behind the wheel that day. I knew she had to be at a dance studio that morning and that she'd be driving part of the same route as the bicyclists' route.

Whenever I hear on the evening news about an accident in Tucson or pedestrians getting hit by a car, I mentally review my daughter's schedule to determine if she could have been in that area at that time. I know...I need to settle down with my worrying!

I don't let on to any of my kids that I worry about these things (I'm sure they already know!) because I really do want them to lead healthy, independent lives.

 

[Kitty 34]

I totally know how you feel NMAmy!! My sons are 29, 22 and 20 and I'm still calling or asking them to call me when they get to a destination.

When my oldest lived up at the Soo for two years and did a lot of recruiting for the college there, I was a basket case all the time. You know how Michigan winters "up north" can be and him driving in it all the time at all hours.!!!!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

The driving makes me nervous not the flying.

 

[minniecarousel]

When mine were in college, they'd drive home for an occasional weekend, and I'd always ask that they call when they get there (they usually remembered!) This was a 3 hour drive.

I stressed when younger DS was on his honeymoon in Europe. We didn't have cell connection while they were there & I didn't like that! I have to keep reminding myself that I was a parent at the age my son is now! They're both big boys now.

I do call my Mom when I arrive places.

 

[tazdev3225]

My 27 y/o DS was in an accident a couple of weeks ago and I went there right away to make sure he was OK, he was side-swiped by a tractor trailer. I do not really worry any other time and my DS is a Correctional Officer. I have always been like this though. I can't control what I can't control so I leave it in a higher power's hand and hope for the best.

 

[Patricia]

I am always worried when my children travel. My oldest is 23 and then 19. They have both flown around the country and I enjoy their calls last minute before they take off and as soon as they are on the ground. Same thing when they drive. It just makes me feel better.

 

[OhMari]

My son -21-texts or calls when he is coming for home from college, and my youngest just called me a little while ago, to tell me she is on her way home from college. It makes it easier to know what is going on and have a sense of peace to know they make it back safe.

Our 25 yr old dd is going to Malaysia over Christmas break. I think my dh is going to have a heart attack-air travel is almost 24 hours. She hates the holidays and she has 2 friends teaching English in Japan and China, they are all meeting at an airport, and going to a small island off of Malaysia for 10 days.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I started flying on my own at 17. I jumped in a plane and joined some friends in England.

I don't think my dad has ever been the same since!


I just went to Hawaii for the first time and I had to call him when we landed and arrived safely at our rented cottage. I am 41.