Does motherhood ends when your last child leaves home?

@alindahaw (1219)
Philippines
May 10, 2008 6:18am CST
A few of my female friends were arguing last night about when motherhood should end. Some of them think that motherhood should end when your last child leaves home and start his/her own life while osme of them think that motherhood is a lifetime career and even when your kids alaready have their own families, you simply cannot stop being a mother to them. I agree with the idea that you simply cannot stop being a mother even when your kids are already grown up. What do you think?
14 people like this
42 responses
• United States
12 May 08
From the minute you birth to the day you die you are a mother and will (for most) act like a mother to that child no matter how old they are!
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Jun 08
i agree with you on this topic .It is just a natural thing and it will just not go away. Something that is forever.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
12 May 08
What do I think? That even though the last one is out of the nest a mother does not stop being a mother. She doesn't just suddenly become a wife or woman again just because her kids are all moved out.. That is just nuts to think that, Once a mother always a mother. Mothers don't just turn motherhood on and off at will. Thankfully my mother is still acting like my mother after me being out of the home for 17 years and married.
1 person likes this
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
10 May 08
I'll be a mother until the day I die..in fact my kids could be well into their 50s and I'll STILL be the mom ya know...I've met ppl who've had that "motherhood ends when they leave home" mindset and quite frankly i just dont get it..HOW could a mother STOP being a mother just because their child grows up and moves out?? Just because they dont live with you anymore doesnt mean they arent still your child? Just because they become adults doesnt mean you stop parenting them ya know..it just shifts thats all..but it never "stops"
@alindahaw (1219)
• Philippines
10 May 08
A woman after my heart! Yes, I love the idea of being around to take care of my kids well into their 50s. Just imagine how lonely life could be if you cannot be with your kids anymore because they are all grown up.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
11 May 08
Motherhood never ends, even for adoptive mothers and some people think that if you adopt, you are a glorified foster mother. I still think of my sons and want to hear from them all the time. I worry about them, worry about my granddaughter. It is not an easy thing being an empty nester. And visiting and being out all the time, writing on mylot, or writing my novel will not keep my mind off my sons.
1 person likes this
@ycanteye (778)
• United States
11 May 08
You are always a mother but shouldn't be a smother after the age of 18. What I mean by that is your duties change as far as what your duties as a mother should be. The time to guide them and tell them what to do and how to do it is over so supporting them as far as doing for them constantly and financially. It is time to just be there for them with moral support and understanding and just be a friend. It is their time to support themselves and make mistakes just as it was yours when you turned 18. It is really hard I will have to admit to see them go through hard times or make decisions we know are wrong but that is part of the learning process they need to go through.
1 person likes this
@ellie333 (21016)
10 May 08
From the moment you give birth and become a mother that is for life and even though two of mine have left home I am still their mother and I am still there for them, still worry over them and it is something I would never want to resign from. I love being a mum and I don't think you ever stop being as long as you live I definately agree it is a lifetime career. Ellie :D
@alindahaw (1219)
• Philippines
10 May 08
my sentiments exactly. When my kids grow up, get married have children of their own, I will still be there for all of them. Not that I can imagine myself being a grandmother at this point! LOL
@mansha (6298)
• India
23 Sep 08
you neve stop being a kid till your parents are there and you never stop being a parent till you have kids , its a life long commitment and much more a responsiblity then a marriage, its not over as long as you live and breathe.
@jewel76 (2305)
• Canada
11 May 08
I believe that from the moment you are pregnant, until the day you die, you are forever a mom, and needed as a mom and a friend as well. It's not because your children don't live home anymore that you're not a mom..They still need you. Sure, you have less responsibility,but you'll always be a mom, there's no getting out of it, it's a contract for life! On this, i'd like to say Happy mother's day to all mommies!
• Canada
6 Jun 08
I don't have a child, but I do have two living parents. Even though I do not need them in the same way I needed them when I was a child, I still love them and need them in my life. I do not think parenthood of either kind ends when the child leaves the nest, it just changes.
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
11 May 08
As long as your children are alive, you will always be their mother! And relationships with adult children can be quite rewarding and fun! And they never quit asking advice on something or other.
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
12 May 08
being a mother never stops even if youre children are already married and leaves home..i guess its a full time careeryou will always there give advices on something if solicited...and supportive as always..
@metschica25 (5399)
• United States
23 Jun 08
To me motherhood is life long and you never stop being a mother . Being a mother is natural and it never ends . It is something that you just can't stop because it is always there.
• United States
16 Oct 08
no way does motherhood end because your child leaves home. My mom still helps me and her mother her. But as an adult i also help my parents. The part that ends is expecting that you should be able to do the same things as you did when they were kids. You have to let them go but you will always be the mama.
@ronnyb (6113)
• Jamaica
11 Jan 09
I agree with you that motherhood is a lifetime job. I have left home but I would like to think that if I meet up on hard times I can still go back and my room will be there and my mother will still care for me ,granted not as I used to as a child .I will now have to contribute to the household , clean my room and provide for myself financially but I know I would have the moral support of my mom. I also know if it comes to the worse like I get sick she will still care for me as a child. Also you know that if you have any problems when you are on your own you can still call mom for advice. She cant come and talk to the guy who is bullying you ,you now have to do that for yourself but she will give advice on how to deal with that.I think when you get older you should find a wife to replace the role that mommy plays at least to a certain extent. So based on this argument ,I would say when you move out you are responsible for yourself and the taking care of your day to day need is your responsibility but mom is always mom for moral and emotional support.
@JoyfulOne (6232)
• United States
11 May 08
Motherhood never ends, once you are a mother, you will always be a mother. However, once a child reaches the age where they move away and take care of themselves, you may still be their mother, but you have to let them make their own decisions in life. I see being a mother as raising your children with enough sense to do well in life, then when they get to be on their own, letting them fly off and be responsible themselves. With my two girls (28 & 32) I would never offer my advice unless it's asked for, because they are adults with their own families. Just because I'm their mother doesn't mean I should be an interfering one! I would never butt in and alienate my kids that way, if they want advice or help, they ask for it. So, no, you never stop being a mother, but you do stop babying them and let them be responsible for their own lives. Happy Mothers Day!
• United States
11 May 08
Once you have become a mother, you are a mother for the rest of your life, even if you miscarry a child or have a still birth, you are still a mom. Why? Because you cared about someone and you took care of that person. After my Goldie passes on, I will still be her mother (even though she is a cat). I took care of her from the time she was three weeks old and I have always acted as her mom. Again, when you are a mom, you are always a mom. That never goes away. This same thing applies to fathers.
@Ohara_1983 (4117)
• Kuwait
11 May 08
being mother to your children nobody can syop that career except if your going to die, mom is still mom & think thier children even they are in bed of sickness, that is the heart of a mother.
@chertsy (3798)
• United States
11 May 08
Once your child leaves home, you worry even more as a mother. So no, motherhood doesn't end, and doesn't end until I leave this Earth for good. Once your child leaves home, and gets married, you have a son or daughter in law that gets added to your worry list. When they have kids, that's even more to worry about. I mean you become a mother in law and then a grandmother, each has mother in it. Something I have plenty of time to wait for.
• United States
11 May 08
I say when your kids can take care of themselves, back the hell away. Lol.
11 May 08
it was those days children care parents even after having family those days .family live together and in same place and in the same village . so they respect their parents not to give any comments by nabours and keep heir deginity. children never leave their parents too far as those days is very rare of going another country or far ,but time changed now childrens leaves their parents and having their own way even studying abrod .so they find another place to live and marry.so the love of parents becoming law..and now a days children are changed because of the new attitutude they never respect patents or elders before having family and some listen ther wife or husband ,not their parents so it also a reason.i said better parents should do educate them and not to expect any thing from them so then they need not worry ihave decided it and i do not need their love and care