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© Penelope Lemov and Parenting Grown Children, 2025. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given.

© Penelope Lemov and Parenting Grown Children, 2025. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given.

Philipgalanes

A mother is concerned that her 18-year-old, college-bound daughter is having a baby, fathered by an unstable man who is out of the picture–but his parents aren't. How should she handle the situation?

Galanes offers a specific answer to the issue at hand, but it applies in general to many of the sticky situations that involve us and our adult children.

If your daughter’s accidental pregnancy (along with her decisions to carry to term and raise the baby) were not enough to convince you that you are not in the driver’s seat here, I’m not sure what more I can say to hit you over the head with the fact. I get your worry and lurking disappointment. Children having children is heartbreaking. But that ship has sailed. Now is the time for maximizing communication and support for your daughter…..

Remember: You don’t control this new path you’re on, but with openhearted cooperation, you may all find great joy on it. There will be a baby!

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8 responses to “Observation: Philip Galanes on the limits of our control over our adult children’s choices”

  1. RebeccaL Avatar
    RebeccaL

    I heart Philip Galanes!

    Like

  2. Christie Avatar

    So true. The best we can do is love them and be there for them through thick and through thin.

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  3. Pamela Shank Avatar

    Good advice. We are in a good place right now with our grown children but I think we have been thru it all too. Give love & support and somehow it usually does work out for the best.

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  4. Teresa Avatar

    Great advice! Following it will help you to keep your joy and sanity too!

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  5. Penpen Avatar

    Sometimes that’s so hard for some of us to see when we’re angry about a life step they are taking. But the tricks and thins are the test. Thanks for stopping by

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  6. Penpen Avatar

    It’s great to hear good advice–and even greater to follow through on it!
    Thanks for stopping by

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  7. Penpen Avatar

    It’s what we’re now here to do. It never pays to withdraw love and emotional support–even as we worry about how they’ll negotiate the future. So glad to hear you and your grown children are in a good p,ace now. That,over and support no doubt helped that good p,ace happen.

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