Mother’s guilt. At what age do you turn off the money tap?

Jacksta writes….

“As a regular reader of Mamamia, I’ve come to realise that “mother guilt” never really lessens it just changes its form. At 48 I’m probably a bit older than most of the contributors to Mamamia but I can identify with most of the issues relating to raising children and getting the work/family balance right.

I returned to work through necessity when my children started school and often felt guilty about not being “there” for them after school each day and for canteen/reading/school holidays etc etc. Somehow they survived the “trauma” of it all and both have finished school now and are pursuing further study that will hopefully give them headstarts into lifelong careers.

My question is this – when do you stop supporting your children financially and are you in fact doing the right thing by allowing them to undertake full time study without the added pressure of worrying about money.

When I left school the expected thing was to get a job and move out of home but subsequently struggle most of your adult life in lower paying jobs. In saying that I became a very independent and self sufficient person. My dilemma as a parent is whether I am doing the right thing by making their lives easier (but mine harder) so they can actively pursue a better career or is it “character building” to cut the apron (and financial) strings and let them fly (or fall) themselves. See the worry and guilt about your children and your choices as a parent goes on an on………”

Image by powerpig

When did your parents stop financially supporting you? Or are they still? What’s your view on when parents need to cut the purse strings and how money and guilt can affect parent/child relationships?