{
  "id": 15279464,
  "title": "My kids were ready for college. They weren't quite ready for adulthood.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/my-kids-were-ready-for-college-they-werent-quite-ready-for-adulthood",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-17T21:13:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/parenting-mistakes-life-skills-kids-college-2026-10"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The author meticulously prepared her children for college, but neglected to instill crucial life skills. She never taught them to clean toilets, manage debts, or identify health issues. Now, she aims to rectify those shortcomings and acknowledges that parenthood doesn't cease when adolescents depart for higher education. A friend approached her regarding job opportunities for her recent graduate; however, despite his demanding academic schedule, sports, and club involvement, he had never held a job. While the author's children have worked, she acknowledges her own deficiencies as a parent. They lacked proficiency in basic tasks such as toilet cleaning, debt repayment, and self-care. Despite cramming as much as possible into their early years, the author's busy schedule, juggling a small business alongside parental duties, left little time for comprehensive education. She resorted to impromptu advice during their college drop-offs, such as carrying drinks at all times, knowing the location of Student Health services, and sitting in front rows to engage with professors. Not all essential knowledge was imparted, but she hopes it's not too late to guide them. Cleaning toilets was particularly neglected; she refused to engage, leaving the task to herself or hiring a housekeeper. The author concedes that while the risk of illness might be low, instilling hygiene habits is vital for future partners and societal norms. Financial responsibility was another area where she fell short. She set up checking accounts and budgets, but failed to teach them the importance of bill payments or debt repayment. The author's eldest son eventually repaid the borrowed money, yet his lack of commitment to previous financial agreements warns that such mistakes need addressing. The author emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, urging her children to evaluate themselves in various environments, both mentally and physically. She regrets not encouraging them to assess themselves more thoroughly during their high school years, as it could have prevented a health scare she experienced when her youngest son ignored early warning signs of a heart issue, leading to a hospital stay. Despite her efforts, she acknowledges her parenting failures and reframes them as opportunities for growth, viewing the challenges of college as a pathway to personal development.",
  "summary": "I sent my kids to college before realizing I'd neglected three important lessons about cleaning, money, and taking care of themselves.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}