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Observations: Don Johnson on cooling the parental advice

12/07/2015

When actor Don Johnson's daughter Dakota (who stars in Fifty Shades of Grey) told him she wanted to be an actress, Johnson (Miami Vice) reacted with neither alarm nor excitement. He holds–according to an interview in Parade Magazine–a hands-off view of parenting grown children:

"I learned a long time ago that your children have their own journey, separate from yours, and even though you want to live their lives for them, you can't. So, I tell them–to quote Joseph Campbell–'Follow your bliss,' and I don't care what it is. It's about their happiness."

Single Dakota Johnson Says 'Fifty Shades Of Grey' Role Has Men 'Running For The Hills'

Parenting Grown Children: We are at our peril when we give advice they didn't ask for

Posted in detachment parenting, letting go

8 responses to “Observations: Don Johnson on cooling the parental advice”

Alana

12/07/2015

My son is in his mid 20’s and that is an absolutely true statement. Now, I can only wish that one of his aunts could cool it with the meddling – she does not realize it, but it is ruining his relationship with her. And that would be sad if that happened.

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penny

12/07/2015

it’s hard enough for us to keep our “advice” to our grown children under control. When aunts and uncles start shelling out the suggestions, relationships can get tricky. tho no relative or friend has as emotional an impact as a parent. Your son will probably just tune his aunt out.

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Yvonne Jasinski

12/07/2015

Agree 100% even though it drives me nuts when my 22 years old son does not listen. I walk away and try to keep it cool but sometimes I feel like yell at him from the top of my lungs.

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Grandma Kc

12/07/2015

It took me a few years to realize that my daughter was strong enough to live her only life. Being there when she wanted me to be and not ALL the time made our relationship much stronger. Just stopping by from the GRAND Social

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Leanne

12/07/2015

I know how true this is for my own adult children – I try to slip a little piece of timely advice in occasionally but doing it too often – or worse still, trying to run their lives for them – always ends in grief. We have to trust that we built good foundations into them and they will make sound decisions based on those foundations. thanks so much for sharing on our #OTM link up 🙂 ~ Leanne

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penny

12/08/2015

you’re exactly right. we have to trust we built a good foundation when they were living under our roof. without that, all our good advice is for naught.
thanks for stopping by.

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penny

12/08/2015

I’m with you on your point about just being there–but only making our presence felt when we’re really needed. Even when they are in a stable marriage and the parent of a child or two (or three), there are still those moments.

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penny

12/08/2015

Whoever said parenting young adults wasn’t frustrating. Even when they’re older and wiser, with families of their own, it can still be baffling. They have a funny way of seeing the world a little differently than we do.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts–and experience.

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