“Before that, like in the summer, I just slept really late and not doing any of my stuff Going out and not worrying about it, but as I have gotten older, my dad, he knew that he couldn't be always on me about doing it because it just agitated me a lot, and knew that I had to take the responsibility of doing everything on my own So, as I got the responsibility I started to take it more seriously, and just making time for what I have to do more than what I want to do” (18-year-old)
“So, for the most part, once she turned 17 or 18, her doctor basically said, you know, ‘Mom–out,’ you know, ‘you need to let her come in and do this by herself, ’ and I was like, ‘okay’ I am taking my cues from him because I believe that my job is to make my children independent and highly functional people, so you know, […] as long as she needed me or wanted me there, I was there, but the moment he told me…let her come in on her own and that she is a grown up or on the verge of being adult, she needs to do this on her own, I had to do that […] I mean, honestly, I hope it doesn't come out like I don't care I do care, but I may not always be there, so to me, it makes more sense for her to know how everything works” (Parent of 20-year-old)
“[My wife”] is more of the watchdog per se. Of course, that is her baby and she will fight until whenever, but she needs to let go. She doesn't want to. I don't know if that is a parental instinct not to want to let go. The fact that he has cystic fibrosis and she has fought for 16 years advocating for him to keep him as healthy as he is, and to give that change to him and him to end up in the hospital and on the transplant list because he completely didn' do anything that he was supposed to do would break her heart, and unfortunately it is life, and he does have to take care of himself at some point… (Parent of 16-year-old)”
“I don't want to say [my son] doesn't need you, but needs you less, which is a great thing, but you know, you still want to be part of it.… sometimes being a parent, you can' let go but you know when you have to let go, and I think that transition would be the time that you need to let go… I am in no rush [for him to transition his care] because I just feel it is the next step to, not losing your child, but just […] your son getting older and taking the next step to his own life and moving forward.… it is a sad day, you don't want it to happen…Is it going to happen? Absolutely. We never thought he would go to high school and before you know it, he is going to be graduating high school…So, I don't know. It just shows that he is going to be older, you know? […] It't a great thing!” (Parent of 16-year-old)
“…we emphasize telling him that you have to continue You know, you have to constantly maintain, and for the most part he is pretty good, but sometimes he drives us crazy where he is not as good as he could be…because he is a 16-year-old kid, and he just kind of [thinks he] knows a little bit more than we do” (Parent of 16-year-old)
“it was down to the point where it was nothing but, you know, the rules It is hard for a parent to be a nurse at the same time It just changes the whole dynamics of the relationship…” (Parent of 18-year-old)
“I might be over the top and do more…and maybe should give him more responsibility, but it is the kind of thing that, you know, you don't really ever take a chance with…It's not like you're ever going to say, okay, well, he has to learn this lesson on his own […] it is not like, okay, well he has to figure it out himself…the homework or something This is life or death…I think as a parent, you have to just always be on top of them (laughs) … it really is on how you normally parent to begin with…for me, I think, you know, you stand on them as long as you have to and as long as it takes, and…continue to follow up…unless I knew there was someone else stepping into my shoes…to do it for me,…I think I would always have concern and…check up on him…You don't take chances with your kid whether it is their health or their anything […] And so, if they [the CF team] said well, you know, it is time that you stop doing this or that, they can say whatever they want, that wouldn't make me do it Other parents might say, okay, the doctor said…but this is a parent thing not a doctor thing…so far as I am concerned” (Parent of 18-year-old)
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