I'm Still Your Mother: How To Get Along With Your Grown-Up Children For The Rest Of Your Life

by Jane Adams

Is there life with your kids once youve raised them? In this groundbreaking book, a best-selling author and psychologist (and the mother of grown children, too) shows you how to keep your family together for a lifetime. Dr. Spock didnt tell you about Postparenthood, but Jane Adams doesin this wise, warm, witty, commonsense guide to creating a close, loving relationship with your grown children.You raised your kids to be independent, strong, and think for themselves. So once theyre grown, why is it so hard to let them do it? Jane Adams interviewed over a hundred mothers and fathers of young adults to learn how theyve created closer, more authentic relationships with their kids than they had with their own parents. She offers practical wisdom about how to keep families together even when distance tugs at the ties that bind. Sensible tips on holding them close to your hearts while getting them out of your house. Good advice about helping them start their careers. And first-hand strategies on getting along with their mates, giving or lending them money, offering or asking advice, being a great grandparent, coming to terms with their lifestyles, and preparing both generations for the future.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Jane Adams, PhD (Seattle, WA, and New York, NY), has been writing and reporting on personal and professional issues in the lives of women for nearly three decades. A speaker, social psychologist, and personal coach, she is a frequent media commentator who has appeared on Oprah, Good Morning America, the Today show, NPR, and CNN.

Reviews

[Trudy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book in that it makes you think and gives you clear information to consider in working on your relationship and communication with your children. Not every section of the book will obtain to you, but what doesn’t today may in a year from now. I gave it 4 stars bc it is not a page turner…but a really good book. I believe I will refer to it throughout the different stages of my life.

[Kristen Seaton · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not helpful for me

I admit I only read about half of this book, but I really just didn't get anything out of it. I went back to it several times over a period of a few months, but finally gave up. I'm sure there are better books out there on this subject, but feel free to try this one. Just because it didn't help me doesn't mean you can't get something from it.

[Cathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was okay. Much of it was not applicable to my life, such as frequent references to divorce, widowhood, grandparenting. I did glean a few helpful gems useful for maintaining a healthy relationship with my adult children.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book with practical (but dated in many cases) advice.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the title. That's what caught my eye and made me take this book home and read it. The style is breezy; it's a fast read. There's no rocket science here; the advice is what you'd expect (give advice when asked; listen; don't use money as an apron string -- that sort of thing). I didn't see anything new, but I did recognize my family dynamics in a number of the situations depicted. Ms. Adams is wise in that she says exchange guilt for regrets. I liked that idea. Read it, and know you are not alone in wondering if when you let your children go, they will want to come back to you every once in a while. Oh, and as a fairly new grandma, I did enjoy the chapter about grandparenting.

[Jean Brazil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good advice for empty nest parents. Now to make it stick.

[Penny Rivera-Roche · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learned more about my relationship with my Mother! Acceptance, expectance, so hard to learn.