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Worried about adult son's relationship

(56 Posts)
gow1 Mon 30-Apr-12 08:58:19

Oh goodness how I feel for you, it's very difficult isn't it? we never stop worrying about our children even when they are adults. It's only natural to want to see him happy and settled. I think your reaction is probably quite normal, when a similar thing happened to my son I felt overwhelmed by my feelings. I found this site enormously helpful, somewhere I could speak my mind and be understood. It enabled me to help my son by not clouding his issues with mine if that makes any sense?
the thing is it may happen to millions of people ever day as you say in your post but right now it's happeneing to your son and you.This place is very good for letting out your thoughts no matter how mad/daft they seem. Mums who worry about their children, no matter how old they are, tend to be rather good parents you know! The opposite would mean you didnt care. Be kind to yourself, I received some very good advice along these lines and it made a huge difference to how I coped with seeing my son unhappy. That old saying this too will pass has proved to be true for my son and hopefully will be true for yours.

pompa Mon 30-Apr-12 08:57:25

Sorry about spelling - smart phone plus fat fingers !

pompa Mon 30-Apr-12 08:54:13

The only way to not worry is to not have children!.
Ours are 30/35 with children of their own, but we worry about them morr than ever now. It is what parents do. So don't worry that you worry about them it is what we do. Just tell yourself that in 6 months time you will just be worrying about something different and todays problem will hsve sorted itself out.

Not muvh hrlp, am I grin

shysal Mon 30-Apr-12 08:48:44

We never stop worrying about our offspring whatever their age. The feeling of helplessness is difficult to cope with, but we have to let them make their own mistakes and just be there for them if things go wrong. I know I too worry more as I get older, probably because I am retired and have fewer other things on my mind. I hope you will find it helpful to come on here and offload your thoughts, it definitely puts things in proportion when we hear other similar stories (and worse).
I hope your son finds happiness, even if it is not with the current GF. flowers

whenim64 Mon 30-Apr-12 08:47:36

Pigeon I know how you feel! Some of us Gransnetters worry when things are not going well for our children's relationships and others seem to sail through it and not let it get to them. When you can foresee heartbreak for your children it's hard not to feel anxious about them going through some turmoil. I hope it works out for them both without too much pain smile

Pigeon Mon 30-Apr-12 08:33:14

How do you stop worrying about your children? My 30 year old son is in a relatively new relationship with a really nice girl who I've met (accidentaly) on a couple of occasions.
She was with someone else when they met but they both fell hook, line and sinker for each other and she ended it to be with him. I have never seen him so happy and was so pleased to think he might settle down with her after being on his own for a couple of years. They both have pressures at the moment (work, money, studying etc) and she is quite a highly strung person. this weekend, after avoiding him all weekshe told him that she feels pressured and "needs some space". He is devasted as she had led him to believe the was "the one" but now he thinks she wants to end it.

Yeterday I spent time trying to reassure him that he would cope whatever the outcome but when I came home later on, I felt drained and full of anxiety - as if it was my relationship about to end! What is the matter with me? I seem to be unable to cope with problems these days? I think in my quest to see him happy and settled, it has almost become an obsession! I just feel so disappointed it may not work out for him.

This morning I am giving myself a good 'talking-to' as I don't think my reaction is healthy! Worrying is one thing, getting all worked up about something that happens to millions of people every day is another thing completely. I will blame the hormones (or lack of them) as although i admit to being a bit of a worrier, I'm sure I'm getting worse!