According to the Angel Soft ad that keeps popping up in my Facebook feed, today is National Single Parent Day. A quick Google search shows me this is a real thing signed into being by Ronald Reagan (!). I’m not trying to get political but I’m surprised that the person who helped propagate the welfare queen myth actually did something positive for single parents. But I have gotten political, so pardon the digression.
Anyway, I wasn’t planning to post about being a single parent, though to be fair, every post I post about being a mother is about being a single parent. However, my daughter and I had an interesting discussion tonight, which was a true adventure in parenting.
As previously mentioned, my daughter turned 18 a few weeks ago. Since then, she has been itching for more freedom. This all came to a head last night when she told me she thought it would be best if she move out. There is a lot of backstory here that I won’t get into because most of it is her story and not mine, but the final conclusion was that she didn’t want to actually move out: she wanted to experience what it was like to be a grown-up without having to move out. In short, she wanted to try out a roommate situation to prepare her for college, which meant more financial responsibility and more freedom (i.e., no curfew).
So tonight we talked about money, and I showed her what bills (or parts of bills) she would be responsible for. In the end, she said, “I changed my mind. I want to keep being a kid.” And then she asked me if I was going to blog about it for my slice of life post today.
As of this posting, I still have a daughter and not a roommate. But I also have a child who understands a little bit more about what it means to be a grown-up.
The Englishist 
Good job, mom! Way to make adult life seem less appealing. I knew those bills were good for something! Also, I don’t get why RR would be the man who made this holiday a reality. That makes no sense to me either.
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Well played, good listener. (Your opening to this slice also suggests you are a keen detector of irony!)
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What a great lesson you shared with your daughter! I will have to remember this for when my son gets a little older and needs a dose of reality. I don’t think he always believes me when I tell him he has the rest of his life to be an adult, so he should enjoy being a kid while he can.
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I wish more folks would have conversations like this before they send their kids off into the world. The whole concept of money, and that things COST money, and that money is not unlimited (well, for everyone I know, at least). Kudos to you and to your daughter for this.
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Awww, this story makes me want to hug you both. I’m glad your kid’s learning a little bit (on safe mode) about what it’s like being an adult — there’s a lot more ahead of her, and she’s lucky to have you as a guide.
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