I recently saw a post on Instagram that really resonated with me. It said something along the lines of “when people ask me why I still help my adult children, I respond that being a parent is a life long role.” Even though my kids are young adults and fully capable of doing things themselves, I still absolutely love helping them and being there for them. I know one day my kids will be there for me when I grow old and need help. I especially love helping my kids with homemaking tasks as I have a lot of experience and gifting in this area. I might as well use my gifts!

Just last week I flew to Portland, OR to help my son move into a different apartment. While it was hard work to help my son move, I actually really enjoyed the process! For some reason I really love packing and I also enjoy organizing spaces (obviously) and making a space cozy and comfortable! I am thankful that my kids are so appreciative when I do help them! Also, I have to mention – working out and lifting weights at my age has practical benefits like being able to help my son move! It was just me and my son who moved his entire one bedroom apartment including some heavy furniture pieces. I am also thankful that I have the time and bandwidth to devote to traveling to Portland to help my son! I also have to say, it would be one thing if my kids took advantage of me, but my son is very responsible with a really good head on his shoulders, making it easier to give him this help. He absolutely could have accomplished this move on his own, recruiting friends, but I was happy to help him! And like I said, he expresses his appreciation for my help.

I do feel like generally people in westernized cultures don’t value community or family as much as other cultures, or even as much as they used to. In other cultures it is common for communities or families to come together to help one another for things like moving. It’s not “putting others out” like it seems to be here in America. People live so individualistically and independently from one another now, and I think with the emergence of the internet and social media it has gotten worse. It is all too easy to just live life online and not interact and function within a community of people. In other cultures, people don’t necessarily kick their kids out of the nest at 18 and often kids live with their parents until they get married. It’s also common in other cultures for aging parents to move in with their kids and live inter-generationally. All of this is rare in western cultures. I think life is more well lived and robust in a community or family structure!

I have to brag about my son for a minute. He moved to Portland a year and a half ago. Since moving, he has developed two separate friend groups, who he regularly spends time with. He has been pursuing his hobbies outside of work – both this year and last year buying a season ski pass, and getting involved with a local open mic night to pursue his passion for music. Through that he actually joined a band and plays bass in another band. We had a conversation about this very topic and he expressed his high value of relationships and the importance of prioritizing those relationships. To say I’m proud is an understatement. Your kids will follow your lead in life – they will not necessarily listen to what you give lip service to, but they will see what your everyday habits are and often will adopt those habits as well in their adulthood!

Family is one of my highest priorities. Not just my immediate family, my husband and kids, but also extended family! I find nurturing relationships to be one of the most rewarding things you can do with your time!