My parents like to say, “You’re a grown man now — you’re your own responsibility.”
And honestly… they’re not wrong.
There comes a point in life when you’re responsible for yourself. You pay your own bills, make your own decisions, and deal with the consequences — good or bad. That’s not a bad thing. That’s just life doing what life does.
What I don’t agree with is the idea that a parent’s responsibility somehow expires when a child grows up.
You never stop being a parent.
You never stop being your child’s mom or dad.
That status? It’s permanent. No expiration date. No return policy.
Does your responsibility magically end when they turn 18? Of course not. Yes, they need to learn independence. Yes, they need to stand on their own two feet. But loving them, caring for them, worrying about them just a little too much? That never goes away.
You may not always be able to help in the same ways. Maybe you can’t invest in their next grand startup dream. Maybe buying them a house when they get married isn’t realistic. Maybe they moved far enough away that you can’t show up at a moment’s notice anymore (thanks a lot, geography).
But none of that means you stop caring.
None of that means you stop loving.
And it definitely doesn’t mean you stop being their parent.
Your role may change. Your abilities may shift. Sometimes you take a step back instead of stepping in. But your heart? Your heart stays all in.
Your child will always be your child — and in some way, they will always be your responsibility.
In many ways, parenting mirrors how God loves us. No matter how far we drift, how badly we mess up, how old we get, or how stubborn we become — we’re never forgotten. We’re never abandoned. We’re always in our Father’s heart.
And as parents, there’s something powerful to learn from that.
Our job doesn’t end. It evolves.
For those who don’t consider themselves believers, think about it this way: don’t you still want the universe to be on your side? That’s what parents are. That’s what we’re meant to be for our kids — the constant in their corner.
They might outgrow the material support we can provide. They might not need our money, advice, or solutions anymore. But they will always need us to be on their side.
Because no matter how grown they are…
They still need the universe behind them.
And to us parents — that universe is called love.
If this resonated with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
How has your role as a parent changed over time?
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Because parenting doesn’t end — and neither does love.




