Table of Contents
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction 1
1 Entering the Empty Nest (or Almost There) 3
2 Accepting that Parenting Mistakes Are Done Deals 7
3 Keeping First Things First-Faith Then Family 11
4 Learning to Step Back and Occasionally Advise 15
5 Riding the Emotional Roller Coaster 19
6 Recognizing that Adult Children Make Adult-Sized Mistakes 23
7 Welcoming Your Children's Future Dates and Mates 29
8 Recreating Your Life with Children on the Sidelines 33
9 Reinvesting in Your Marriage 37
10 Viewing Your Adult Children as Peers and Equals 41
11 Twisting the Plot-You're a Grandparent 47
12 Stepping in to Parent Your Grandchildren in a Crisis 51
13 Building Good Relationships with Your Children's In-Laws 57
14 Redefining Your Role in Life Now 61
15 Letting Adult Children Become Fiscally Responsible 65
16 Reinventing Life Goals from Midlife and Beyond 69
17 Helping Adult Children Endure the Difficult Seasons of Life 73
18 Having Fun-Even When Your Adult Children Have Problems 77
19 Welcoming Untimely Interruptions 83
20 Supporting Your Adult Children through a Crisis 87
21 Giving Counsel When Your Adult Children Want to Give Up 91
22 Investing in People Other than Your Adult Children 95
23 Allowing Adult Children to Move Back Home 99
24 Banishing Worry for Good 103
25 Applying Tough Love as Needed 107
26 Being Hopeful When Your Adult Child's Life Falls Apart 113
27 Praying for Something You Can't Talk About 117
28 Asking for Forgiveness as Needed 121
29 Learning from Your Adult Children with Grace 125
30 Loving Them Unconditionally 131
Sources for Quotations 135
