At what age do they NOT need you?

[BarleySugar]

Son No2 came off his motorbike 10 days ago and took a seriously large chunk out of his knee. He would not go to A&E, convinced it would heal OK. Friday we had a call from him at his mates house, asking us to take him to A&E with his knee. They couldn't get any blood out of him, so ended up sending him home with 2 types of antibiotics and a new dressing. He'd been working every day he was rostered on too.
He went back yesterday to have the dressing changed, but before he got there the knee started weeping, soaking the dressing. To cut a long story short, they have kept him in, he's on intravenous antibiotics (finally a nurse who did manage to get a needle in him) and he's due to go to theater any time now to have it washed out and debrided .
Last night he told me I shouldn't have let him go to his mate's the night he'd done it, and insisted on him going to A&E. He also asked if I thought they'd let me stay the night . At 22, almost 23 I told him I didn't think so.
If all goes well he'll be out tomorrow.

[mrswadders]

kids don't you just love em!!!! I've been a bit luckier my No2 son broke his collar bone 3 weeks ago, playing football(here we go again!!!) Anyway his long-suffering girlfriend held his hand ths time!!! although he did come round for some 'mother's' sympathy!!! (23 now....say no more, don't think sons ever grow up when they hurt themselves - it's always 'mum' they need)
While he was growing up i'm sure they had a seat with my name on it in A & E!!!!!

[Kirk]

At that age you cannot even get a good price for them on ebay.

[sammy_roser]

I'm 26 now and quite independent but when I was stuck in hospital recently every day I moaned and said I wanted my mum and my kitties. My mum laughed and said even at 55 she still sometimes just wants her mum to look after her. Think it's something that never really goes away.

[rustylady]

They will ALWAYS need you, no matter how old they get.

[Glutton4...]

ANOTHER good reason for not having any...

[Bren In Pots]

They will ALWAYS need you, no matter how old they get.

That just about sums parenthood up

[Jardiniere]

mine have to manage without me cos I live another country away ...but I still worry about them... at 43, 36 and 32. .....thank goodness for our i pad and facetime.

[Alison]

I love my mum and enjoy spending time with her but I honestly can't remember needing her since O was a child. Tend to deal with things myself and if I can't then would prefer to talk to a friend / OH and wouldn't worry mum that way either. Was brought up to be independent which is perhaps as well as seem to be a magnet for other people's problems

[BarleySugar]

Just to say the operation seems to have gone OK, but they want to keep him on IV antibiotics for 24 hours, so I don't think he will be home tomorrow. I think things were perhaps a bit more serious than they let on to him. Due to evening meetings I couldn't see him today, but his best friend, and HIS mum went to visit this evening. Strange getting in tonight with no one else at home after a house full for the past 3 weeks (DD and fiancé, OH and son no2, though OH SHOULD be home later). Perhaps I need them as much as they need me

[mrswadders]

tis funny how we moan when they're all at home then moan when they're not there. I love it when No1 and girlfriend come round and No 2 is there, old times, they even started wrestling each other in the middle of the living room(at 19 and 23 not a pretty sight!) daft b*****s!!!

Good to hear OP went well andhis on the road to recovery, bet he lapped up the attention from his friends mum!!!!

[Feral007]

Yes, we had a friend of the boys come back to town after his mother moved away. Ended up minding his dog (and losing it a couple of times) giving him and his g/f and the dog lifts in and out of town....I used to boss him round a bit when I bossed my own boys because he needed it! He was nowhere near as indiependent as my kids! Boys! My friend says they never grow any older than 7 yo in the head

Hope the knee heals well and quickly now.

[horticultural_hobbit]

Er...always need parents. Not as of yet :: touch wood:: had anything major. But when in doubt ask the parents. Punctured tyre, phone Dad. Check the oil, ask Dad. Got a poorly tummy and need mint tea, ask Mum. Don't know how to cook something Indian, ask Mum.

"Ask your dad" and "Did you ask your mum" are heard very often.

[Ananke]

I have 23 and 25 year old Sons who both live at home, don't think I need to elaborate on that

[Feral007]

Oh no! So there's no hope of me getting rid of my 20yo son any time soon then Ananke? Love him dearly but gee, I've cut the apron strings, run, child, run!