Despite it being the ultimate goal of the whole ‘being a parent’ thing, seeing a child grow up can be a strange and even unsettling experience for many moms and dads. It can seem like one day, you’re changing their diapers, and the next, they are racing toward all those adult milestones that you were so concerned with achieving not so long ago. It’s not uncommon to have those moments where turning back the clock seems like an attractive option.

Nonetheless, an important part of parenting is knowing when to take a step back and let your kids develop into the hopefully fulfilled and successful people that they are capable of being. It is a stage that some struggle with more than others, and it can easily cause issues with adolescent and young adult children. There is a stark difference between being concerned for their well-being and just being overbearing.