Does loving your child get less intense?

Question

my daughter is 2 and a half. Of course, I love her immensely. I think about when she is a teenager....how can I let her go out on her own? Spend the night at her friend's house? Just regular stuff kids do...I'm thinking that since she is still so little I am more protective. Does this wear off a little or change as she gets older? I hope so!

Answer 1

I don't think that it does. I think that it gets worse. I have a 5 year old son. He will be going to kindergarten this year and I worry about everything. I worry when he is at my moms staying the night, when hes at one of his friends I call all the time. I just worry about everything with him.

Answer 2

It's pure h**l.. I am here to tell ya!

It doesn't change... you just learn to deal with it, and know that letting go will allow her to grow up into the independent and responsible adult you are hoping for.

Best of Luck!!!

Answer 3

You don't love them any less.  You just trust them (and the job that you did teaching them how to be safe & polite) more.

Answer 4

I don't think it does...its just as they get older you feel the need to let them do a little more than what they could before...you are still going to be WAY protective especially when the teen years hit,but its just something inside tells you to let her go a little and let her do a few more things than she usually could do

But no it never changes!

In my opinion

Answer 5

I have a daughter who is almost 2 and I worry about the teen years and if I can actually let her grow up too. I also have a son who is 8 and I love him just as much as I did when I saw him for the first time. The love you feel for your children stays intense until the day you die. If you love them, teach them, and nuture them as they grow, you will feel confident they have the skills to approach milestones and you will be there to help them along the way. My son is camping with his dad 200 miles away right now and I am worried to death something will happen to him. Even though his dad is there to take care of him and I know in my heart he will be fine, it's not the same as having him in front of me to reach out and touch and hold if he gets scared. To me, he is still my baby and he always will be, I can't imagine feeling any different towards him. I can look at my daughter and cry I love her so much. After almost 9 years, I do the same thing with my son, although he thinks I'm crazy when I do.Love is intense and I don't know and love any stronger than what I feel for my children and I'm very happy for you and your child that you share such a loving bond. She will be just fine and so will you.

Answer 6

Remember when she took her first steps?  I bet you were like me with mine and watched over her like a hawk making sure she didn't get to close to anything that might hurt her?  I'm sure now you aren't following her around just incase she takes a little tumble.  Children reach different stages in their lives and we, as parents, are there to witness them all.  As our children grow ...we grow too.  As they adapt to new surrounding or situations, we do too.

I would stop worrying about how you will feel when she is a teenager and enjoy every single second of her being an inquisative two and a half year old.  There will be plenty of time to worry baouthte 'teenage years' when they arrive.  Just sit back and watch you beautiful daughter grow and learn and love her as much as you do now forever!

Answer 7

It wears off, don't worry.

Answer 8

No you will always be protective. But when they are older you need to try and let them learn life for them self's. That is not so easy to sit back and watch. Just be there always. And right now in joy! They grow up to fast. Mine are 18Girl,17Boy, 9Boy and two step kids 5&6boys Kids are great.I couldn't inmagin life with out them.

Answer 9

As your children grow older, you'll be amazed and impressed when they start to do more and more for themselves.  As hard as it is, there will be times that you have to stand back and watch them fall down with bf's, bills, life's problems.  It never gets easier and although you may see the outcome, they have to learn some things for themselves.

Answer 10

my little girl will be 3 in aug and as for as I can see it only get worse if you love them and want the best for them....welcome to parent hood.

PS

if you are like me you will be cleaning your gun the day the first boy comes to get her for a date.

Answer 11

It doesn't get less intense, just like the love for your man doesn't get less intense. It just changes, mellows into a more comfortable place as they mature.

I have a 17 yr old, 18 year old, and a 20 year old. Some of that "love" is also the protectiveness you feel for the helplessness of the small child.

I still love all my children wildly but have allowed myself to let go of that need to be so protective, so that "intense" feeling isn't so consuming.

Basically that intensity as all the love, responsibility, worry, and hope all rolled up together. As the child ages and you can see some of those roles being fulfilled by their maturity, you will feel less intense and more at peace.

Enjoy while you can. I can't believe my baby will be an adult in 11 months.