Time with my young adult children. They are all out of the house, recently, and there is nothing, and I mean NOTHING more valuable/meaningful to us than when they come home for a visit or we spend time out in the world.

It's incredible.

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ivolimmen an hour ago | parent | next [-]

I lived a short time in my 20s with friends a few blocks from my parents. When I returned to live with my parents for a short period the entire dynamic changed. You leave the house so you don't go to your room, you visit. I started talking more and listening to music with them. I really appreciated my parents more. I hope my relationship with my children will be the same.

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jimmydddd 8 minutes ago | parent [-]

What do you mean by listening to music with them? Like, sitting around in the living room playing each other's favorite songs? I don't think I've ever done that with my parents, my kids, or anyone really.

	▲	Exoristos 5 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		[delayed]

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thousand_nights 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

this is nice to know as someone who is the adult child.

i used to argue a lot with my parents when i was still living with them, but ever since i moved out and we only see each other once every few months, our relationship has improved so much, and we're always happy to see each other in smaller doses

	▲	nly 2 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		So true..had my parents over for Christmas one year and they stayed for 4 days. 3 would have been perfect.
	▲	bheadmaster an hour ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		It's because we're no longer a burden. Many parents would gasp at this sentence, but the same parents would likely complain to anyone who'd listen about how negatively their children are affecting their lives.

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nutjob2 29 minutes ago | parent | prev [-]

I never enjoyed spending time with my late parents. I only did so out of a sense of obligation. I have no children and have never really given that choice a second thought.

Its interesting that people value their relationship with their children so much and I assume its due to a deep sense of connection with them, they being "flesh and blood" but I've never given that any weight. I feel much more connected to people who have had similar life experiences and ideas to myself, and that could be anyone. I have quite a few relatives who I've never met or met once and do not see because they are nothing like me.

I suspect this is mostly due to being pretty far out on the pointy bits of various bell curves.

	▲	magicalhippo 17 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		It also depends on the parents and how they nurtured the relationship with the child as they grew up. I had a a good relationship with mine growing up, and enjoyed visiting, talking and so on as I was an adult. A good friend had it different. They were not good parents. He, much like you, visit out of obligation and not to get written out of the will quite frankly. If it was up to him he'd never see them again.