For years all I could think about was becoming a mum. When we were undergoing fertility investigations, all I could think about was becoming a mum. When I was trying to work or get on with every day life, all I could think about was becoming a mum. I remain eternally grateful that we got our happy ending and that our wish, the wish we focused on ever minute of every day for so long, came true. It feels right for me to be a mum. I realise as Ava grows she will need me less and our relationship will change, that’s part of life. However, I want to feel as if I’m always there for her in the ways I am now if she needs me to be.
I don’t think there’s a time when we clock off being a parent or release our parenting responsibility. Nor should you. Being a parent is forever and the impact you can on your child can last forever too. Did you receive advice when you were a child that has stuck with you until today? Maybe you can still hear those words ringing in your ears.
I hope to pass on to my daughter that she can do anything she wants with her life. I want her to be confident enough to make her own path, rather than following a path she thinks she should follow. I teach her kindness and humility, but I also want to start a fire in her belly when she thinks about what she can achieve in her life.
One of the main responsibilities I think we have as parents is a financial responsibility. I was never taught to save money and so I was 40 years old before I had any savings to speak of. I want to make sure Ava has a better understanding of having her own financial safety net, than I did. So already, even though she is only 4, we talk about saving money and the value that has.
Supporting our children financial, even when they have grown up seems to be quite common. New research from Legal & General reveals that nearly two-thirds of parents have provided financial support to their adult child in the past year, with almost a quarter gifting more than £1000. This has certainly been the case in my life. My mum has had to bale me out on numerous occasions, and I have been very grateful each time. Have your parents lent or gifted you money as an adult?
The research has also shown that 43% of parents had supported their adult child with general living costs and over a fifth had helped to pay for grocery shopping. When I’ve needed help, it has been due to unexpected bills, like the car breaking down, rather than day-to-day living cost. So this statistic surprised me a little. The stats go on to show that more than half had helped to pay off their adult child’s credit card bill in the last 5 years. Which was my personal experience.
It seems as if we will be financially supporting our children throughout their lives and that starts as soon as they arrive into this world. I remember when Ava was born, my husband and I were petrified, but we also had such a strong desire to to protect her in any way we could. Which is why it’s amazing that Legal & General offers free life insurance of £15,000 for new parents for 12 months! You need to grab this before your child is 5 years old.
It’s so important to have financial support systems in place for our kids. Should anything happen, we want to know they are taken care of first and foremost. What does being #ForeverAParent mean to you?
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.