People Share The Moment They Realized Their Kid Wasn’t A Kid Anymore

There comes a time in every parent's life when they have to accept that their little ones are getting older and that someday they are going to become adults. That moment might come sooner for certain parents, and others might not let it settle in until their kids are grown and having kids of their own.

No matter when it happens, it's got to be a jarring moment and one that is full of a wide range of emotions.

Scary Parent No More

Post: When I was starting to get after my son about cleaning his room, and suddenly realized I was looking up at him.
Photo Credit: Reddit / Sixthman27
Photo Credit: Reddit / Sixthman27

You would think that once your children find out that they can look you in the eye, a little bit of that power that parents hold over their kids disappears.

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Growing Kids With A Growing Appetite

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Post: When I started plating four same sized plates of food for dinner.
Photo Credit: Reddit / ncconch
Photo Credit: Reddit / ncconch
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When your kids are going through a growth spurt, it's crazy how big their appetite is. Someday, they're going to go from their cute plastic Frozen dishes to full-size adult plates.

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Soon There Will Be No Leftovers

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Post: for me it was when my son and I couldn't split a plate at a restaurants anymore. He wanted a full portion and I had to get me own full portion and then save half for later. Sad times.
Photo Credit: Reddit
Photo Credit: Reddit
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Eventually, the day will come when he's going to eat all of his food and then also his mom's, and there are going to be no leftovers for anyone. It's better fresh anyway.

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That Would Be Upsetting At First

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man saw his daughter drinking and smoking and wanted to scold her but then remembered she was legal drinking age
Photo Credit: Reddit / gogojack
Photo Credit: Reddit / gogojack
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If it were me in that situation, I might still give my kid a talking-to about how smoking and gambling can be dangerous and encourage them to make smart life decisions.

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Sounds Like A Good Grown-Up

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son telling parents he is moving out and having a good plan to do so
Photo Credit: Reddit / tarnin
Photo Credit: Reddit / tarnin
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This would be such a bittersweet feeling. On the one hand, your son is moving out and that's sad. But, on the other hand, you raised someone who has the makings of a successful adult.

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Airports Can Be Confusing

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daughter had a much cooler head than her dad in a busy airport
Photo Credit: Reddit / imk
Photo Credit: Reddit / imk
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It's always interesting to see the parts of you in your child and then grow to recognize the parts of you that they don't have. That combination of things makes them their own person.

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Does She Still Believe In Santa?

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Post: When she looked at me with disdain and said
Photo Credit: Reddit / Pointer_Brother
Photo Credit: Reddit / Pointer_Brother
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She doesn't believe in the Tooth Fairy anymore! Let's hope that she keeps that to herself so she doesn't upset any of her peers who might not be there yet.

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All The Feels!

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Post: When he hugged me as a I buckled into my airline seat- then walked forward and entered the cockpit.
Photo Credit: Reddit / pullin2
Photo Credit: Reddit / pullin2
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Seeing your child follow their dreams and actually make them come true would feel amazing. I don't know about you, but I would feel extra safe in a plane my son was flying.

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That's A Big Responsibility

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Post: Walking down the road with my son to vote in the general election, two days after his 18th.
Photo Credit: Reddit / 64Marc
Photo Credit: Reddit / 64Marc
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Voting is one of the biggest responsibilities there is, and to see your kid making informed decisions about how they think the country should be run would fill you with pride.

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Carrying Her Own Backpack?!

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Post: My daughter is almost five and I was taken aback this morning when she insisted she could carry her own backpack..and then she did
Photo Credit: Reddit / MadamNerd
Photo Credit: Reddit / MadamNerd
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Is it just me, or is seeing a kid carrying around a backpack that's basically as big as they are one of the cutest things ever? Someday they'll grow into them, but not too soon.

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Some People Never Learn

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Post: My boy who is 3 and a half years old fell in love with Mario Kart when I play on the Switch. On his 4th day of playing, he drifted.
Photo Credit: Reddit / JT_the_Irie
Photo Credit: Reddit / JT_the_Irie
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Learning how to drift in Mario Kart is one of those things that a lot of people don't even learn how to do because it's so complicated and something a lot of people just don't think of.

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TikTok Dances? That's A Cool Mom

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800 x 533 (13)
Photo Credit: Reddit / dirtandstarsinmyeyes
Photo Credit: Reddit / dirtandstarsinmyeyes
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This mom should be really happy that she has the kind of relationship with her daughter that she does. Not everyone is lucky enough to have their daughter trust them with their feelings.

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A Scary Feeling

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Post: I was separating laundry and I couldn't tell my wife's and my daughter's underwear apart.
Photo Credit: Reddit / theworldisaniceplace
Photo Credit: Reddit / theworldisaniceplace
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First off, I think it's great that this dad is helping with the laundry. Shoutout for that. But it has to be a strange feeling knowing that your little girl is growing into a woman.

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Time Goes By Fast

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Post: The youngest walked out the front door, got in the car and drove away. I was slack-jawed thinking
Photo Credit: Reddit / picksandchooses
Photo Credit: Reddit / picksandchooses
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The amount that a person changes between 11 and 18 is so wild, it's almost like they end up being a different person. It's nice to see the bits of their childhood selves shine through, though.

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A Very Heavy Conversation

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Post: He filled out paperwork to be a volunteer fireman/EMt, and I had to talk with him about life insurance and beneficiaries.
Photo Credit: Reddit / tunaepyrgna
Photo Credit: Reddit / tunaepyrgna
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Discussing the scary stuff in life is really difficult, but they're all conversations that we need to have with our children, no matter what age they are. You don't want life to take them by surprise.

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The Dreaded Math Homework

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someone realizing they can't help their kid with their math homework
Photo Credit: Reddit / CaptnSpalding
Photo Credit: Reddit / CaptnSpalding
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If it were me, I would have to tell my kid that I was never going to be able to help them with their math homework because it would always be beyond me.

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Like Meeting Again For The First Time

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dad dropping his son off at collage
Photo Credit: Reddit / tracer1952
Photo Credit: Reddit / tracer1952
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Seeing your kid as an adult is so much like meeting them for the first time after they're born. You brought his beautiful person into the world and you're excited to see what they're going to do.

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Copying Someone Is The Greatest Form Of Flattery

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niece used sarcasm for the first time
Photo Credit: Reddit / Grigiomoda086
Photo Credit: Reddit / Grigiomoda086
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Maybe this little girl looks up to their aunt so much that they wanted to be like her, including speaking in the sarcastic tone that little girl hears coming from her aunt.

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This Is Heartbreaking

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little girl started calling her dad, dad and not daddy
Photo Credit: Reddit / NeverFindTheTime
Photo Credit: Reddit / NeverFindTheTime
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These are the kinds of changes that you never think of happening, but they do! As your kids get older, the way they relate to you changes, which is so sad but also exciting.

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Children In Glasses Are Too Cute

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Post: When he got his first pair of glasses
Photo Credit: Reddit / Resident-Advertising
Photo Credit: Reddit / Resident-Advertising
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I always think it's so cute and funny to see something like glasses, which I always just think are adult-sized, the right size for a kid. It's like a mini set of glasses on your mini-you.

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When Kids Grow Up, They See Things Differently

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kid says sorry for being an awful teenager
Photo Credit: Reddit / Nudist_Geek
Photo Credit: Reddit / Nudist_Geek
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When you can start to relate to your child as an adult, they tend to see how hard you worked for them and how much you owe them. Especially if you gave them a hard time.

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Everyone Loves Pasta

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little girl ate all her pasta and some of her mom's
Photo Credit: Reddit / Flopper2k19
Photo Credit: Reddit / Flopper2k19
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This could just be her inner love for pasta coming to the surface, because let's be real: pasta is delicious, and it's something that we can all get behind, no matter what age you are.

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Adversity Teaches Us A Lot

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someone's son handed a tragedy well
Photo Credit: Reddit / lost40s
Photo Credit: Reddit / lost40s
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No matter how hard you try, life is going to be difficult at times, even the people you love. When you see your kid work their way through it, and support other people through it, it's a good feeling.

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Ah Yes, The Talk

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Post: The day I found my Unscented Lubriderm chilling on his nightstand. Oh. So that's now a thing.
Photo Credit: Reddit / LittleMissWu
Photo Credit: Reddit / LittleMissWu
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Having the talk with your kids is so important, but that doesn't mean it isn't going to be a bit shocking to see that your kids have already gotten there.

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He Handled That Like A Champ

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little boy didn't let his friends bully him
Photo Credit: Reddit
Photo Credit: Reddit
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Being able to deescalate a situation that well is a skill that a lot of adults don't even have, so his parents should feel proud of the work they've done to help him get to that place.

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The Big Things In Life

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Post: She just got approved to buy her own home.
Photo Credit: Reddit / Jumpinalake
Photo Credit: Reddit / Jumpinalake
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If there is anything that's going to make you think that your kid is all grown up, it's when they start doing "adult" things like buying a house, becoming a parent, or getting married.

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Their Priorities Change

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parents realizing that the things they used to do to punish their kids won't work anymore.
Photo Credit: Reddit / CrustyBatchOfNature
Photo Credit: Reddit / CrustyBatchOfNature
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It's going to be a big learning curve, understanding how to reason with your child as their priorities change. Eventually, being sent to their room might not be the worst thing that could ever happen to them.

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That's A Good Life Lesson

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someone telling their dad to wait to buy something when he could find something he liked
Photo Credit: Reddit / chocfrogaddict
Photo Credit: Reddit / chocfrogaddict
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When your kids are the ones that are hitting you with life lessons, it's a wild feeling. You know you raised someone who is going to be a successful human when they make sense like that.

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Not All Growing Up Moments Are Great

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someone noticed their kids were having actual arguments not fights
Photo Credit: Reddit / Nomapos
Photo Credit: Reddit / Nomapos
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When your kids become old enough to fight with each other in a way that's different from how they did when they were little, it's weird to see what kind of person they're going to be. Will they take cheap shots? Will they be reasonable?

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It All Comes Down To This

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Post: I had to start playing dirty to win when we would play 1-on-1 in basketball.
Photo Credit: Reddit / jeepersteepers
Photo Credit: Reddit / jeepersteepers
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All every parent wants is for their kids to live better than they did. So, when they are able to surpass you in certain things, like basketball, it's exciting but also a bummer.