Relationships November 27, 2016
If you have a good relationship with your parents, it can be heartbreaking to realize that you can’t pack them with you when you move. You’re off to your next adventure and this has to be something you do alone. However, just because your parents won’t be there with you physically doesn’t mean your relationship of with laughter, love and advice has to end.
Here are four thing you can do keep your relationship with your parents strong – even after your move out of home.
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Once children move away for college, a new job or a relationship, they can forget about the importance of calling home. More often than not, your parents just want to hear from you; they want to hear about you’re doing and receive updates on your life.
Your parents can also be there for you when you’re going through problems. According to The Odyssey, calling home is important because your parents will always be honest with you and will keep you grounded. “[Your] parents are there as daily reminders of where we come from,” The Odyssey writes. “They are far more experienced than you are, and their knowledge can only help you, not hurt you.” Speaking to your parents often will help alleviate some of the homesickness, it will remind them of how much you care and it may even help you get through a problem
While it’s okay to have fun every now and then, you don’t want to give your parents any more reason to worry. Making poor decisions that could endanger your life is not reassuring and could lead to issues within your family. Your parents just want to know that they raised you right. So before you make a decision that you’re unsure about, use the principles you’ve learned from them to guide your actions. Knowing how to be respectful, how to manage your time and when to ask for help will show them that they have nothing to worry about.
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According to Reader’s Digest, maintaining a healthy relationship with your parents after moving out also involves handling your own money. Tina Tessina, Ph.D., a licensed psychotherapist, tells Reader’s Digest, “When you may depend on their emotional support, relying too much upon their resources, rather than your own, can lead to mutual resentment.”
Although your parents will always be there for you, learning how to handle your own problems is an important step after moving out. Dr. Tessina also says that it will make you feel good about yourself, which will have a positive effect on your relationship with them.
When you leave home, the sacrifices your parents made for you becomes clearer. When you start paying your own bills, working to support yourself or even raising your own children, you wear the shoes your parents walked in for years. This realization may make you more thankful for them, so let them know how you feel.
Show your parents that moving away hasn’t made you forget them. You can send them heartfelt letters, give them a call, video chat with them or even go back home to visit. There are many ways to thank your parents, all you have to do is find the right way to express your personal gratitude.
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