Let’s be honest—parenting doesn’t stop when your kids turn eighteen.
The rules just change.
One day you’re helping them with math homework, and the next you’re wondering why they haven’t called in a few weeks.
If you’ve ever found yourself sitting in that silence—missing your adult child but not quite knowing how to bridge the gap—you’re not alone.
I’ve been there too.
Over the years, through plenty of trial, error, and humble reflection, I’ve realized that sometimes, the habits that once made us “good parents” to young kids can quietly sabotage our connection with them as adults.
So, if your relationship feels distant or strained, here are seven behaviors that might be getting in the way—and what you can do instead.
1) You still treat them like children
It’s easy to forget that our “kids” are now grown-ups with opinions, jobs, and perhaps children of their own.
I’ve caught myself doing it—offering unsolicited advice, correcting small things, or talking to my son in a tone I used when he was a teenager.
Old habits die hard.
But here’s the thing: adult children crave respect just as much as anyone else.
When we slip into that parental “I know best” mode, it can make them feel small or unheard.
The solution? Try listening more than you speak.
When your child comes to you with a problem, resist the urge to fix it right away.
Ask questions like, “What do you think you’ll do?” or “How are you feeling about it?”
They don’t need another parent—they need an ally who trusts their judgment.
And trust me, when they feel seen as equals, they’re far more likely to keep you close.
2) You criticize more than you connect
I remember a conversation with a friend not too long ago—she was heartbroken that her grown daughter rarely visited.
As we talked, it became clear that every phone call turned into a critique: comments about her appearance, her home, her parenting.
The daughter eventually stopped calling, not because she didn’t love her mother, but because every chat left her feeling judged.
We often criticize because we care.
We want our children to have good lives, make smart choices, and avoid mistakes we once made.
But constant correction sends a message that they’re never good enough.
Instead, look for opportunities to praise, encourage, and show genuine curiosity.
Ask about the things that matter to them, not just the things that worry you.
Connection thrives in an environment of acceptance, not scrutiny.
3) You struggle to apologize
Here’s a hard truth many of us parents learn late in the game: we don’t outgrow the need to say “I’m sorry.”
Maybe we yelled too much when they were young, or dismissed their feelings, or made decisions we thought were right but caused them pain.
Our children may have moved on, but that doesn’t mean those moments vanished from memory.
Acknowledging those old wounds can do wonders for a strained relationship.
I once apologized to my daughter for being too controlling during her teen years—it was uncomfortable, but her response surprised me.
She said, “Dad, I didn’t realize you even remembered that.”
From that day, our conversations softened.
You don’t have to make a grand speech.
Just a simple, “Looking back, I think I could’ve handled that differently. I’m sorry if it hurt you.”
That kind of humility builds bridges no lecture ever could.
4) You try to control their choices
But once they’re grown, that same impulse can drive them away.
Maybe you disapprove of who they’re dating, how they spend money, or where they choose to live.
You might even have valid concerns.
But when advice starts sounding like judgment, adult children often respond by pulling back.
I’ve seen this play out many times—parents insisting they “just want what’s best,” while their kids hear, “You don’t trust me to run my own life.”
A better approach is to focus on influence, not control.
Offer your perspective when invited, but let them take the lead.
You might say, “I have some thoughts about that if you’d like to hear them.”
That single phrase turns a potential argument into a conversation based on respect.
5) You guilt them into spending time with you
“After all I’ve done for you, the least you could do is visit.”
Sound familiar?
I’ve heard those words tumble out of more than one parent’s mouth—including my own, once upon a time.
The guilt trip might work in the short term, but it rarely builds genuine connection.
It makes your children feel obligated rather than eager to spend time with you.
The goal isn’t to make them feel guilty—it’s to make them want to be around you.
That means focusing on quality, not obligation.
Instead of saying, “You never call,” try “I miss hearing your voice. When’s a good time to catch up?”
It shifts the tone from accusation to invitation.
And when they do visit or call, keep the time positive.
Laughter, warmth, and mutual respect are far stronger magnets than guilt ever will be.
6) You avoid emotional vulnerability
For some of us—especially those raised in “stiff upper lip” households—talking about feelings doesn’t come naturally.
We’d rather discuss the weather, the news, or how the grandkids are doing.
But closeness with adult children often requires more emotional openness than we’re used to giving.
If you only ever talk about surface topics, they’ll never really know you.
That doesn’t mean spilling every secret or trauma, but sharing pieces of your inner world.
Tell them what you’ve been reflecting on, what scares you, or what you’ve learned with age.
I’ve found that when I open up, my children do too.
It changes the dynamic from parent–child to human–human.
As Brené Brown once said, “Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage.”
And if you want a deeper bond, courage is exactly what it takes.
7) You haven’t accepted who they’ve become
One of the hardest transitions as a parent is realizing your child has grown into someone different from the person you imagined.
Maybe their beliefs, lifestyle, or career path don’t align with your own.
Maybe they’ve made choices you wouldn’t make.
But love that’s conditional—love that says “I’ll be close to you if you live the way I prefer”—isn’t really love at all.
Acceptance doesn’t mean approval.
It means respecting their right to be their own person.
When my son chose a career I didn’t initially understand, I had to remind myself that it was his life, not mine.
Once I stopped trying to steer the ship, our relationship improved tenfold.
Let them feel that your love is unwavering, even when you disagree.
That sense of emotional safety is what keeps adult children coming home—not guilt, not obligation, but genuine acceptance.
A few final thoughts
If some of these behaviors sound familiar, don’t beat yourself up.
Every parent I know—including myself—has fallen into at least one of these traps.
The fact that you’re reading this means you care enough to reflect, and that’s half the battle won.
I’ve mentioned this before in another post, but relationships—especially family ones—are living things.
They need tending. They shift and grow as we do.
The same patience, humor, and curiosity that helped you through the early years of parenting can help you reconnect now.
So, take that first step. Reach out without judgment. Apologize if you need to. Listen more, talk less.
The bond might not repair overnight, but small moments of respect and kindness can lead to something even stronger than before.
After all, isn’t that what we all want in the end?
To be loved, understood, and accepted—no matter how many birthdays have passed.
