Hug your kid for the last time!

Name: Hug your kid for the last time!
Uploaded: 2026-05-22
Duration: 1 min 20 s
Channel: Good Inside
Description: The speaker discusses the emotional complexities of parenting, particularly the bittersweet nature of watching children grow and become independent. They e

Good Inside · 1m · transcribed May 2026

Transcript

0:00 So, I'm going to pick you up and you're not going to pick me up. [laughter] >> And I'm going to hold you. You're going to wrap your legs around me. You're not >> And we're going to do it for the last time, okay? Cuz I don't know if I'm going to be able to pick you up again cuz you're just so big, okay? [snorts] I keep seeing this first time last time theory. I'm doing this on purpose. I want to pick you up and have you wrap your legs around me so I CAN REMEMBER THE LAST time I picked you up in this way. And I want to talk about why I think this is making us parents emotional. Parenting is one of the only times when love and loss really kind of go together. Think about it. You love your kids so much. You put in so much to this relationship, but the goal with your kid is their growth and their independence. You put in so much so your kid will need you less and less. Of course, they still need hugs and comfort and advice, but as they get older and we put so much in, they do separate more, which means their growth means our loss.

1:01 And it's okay to name that. This last time hug that we're all giving our kids, I think it's a tiny grief moment, honoring what we're losing with our kids as they get older. And we're not losing it because something went wrong. We're actually losing it because something went right.

Summary

The speaker discusses the emotional complexities of parenting, particularly the bittersweet nature of watching children grow and become independent. They emphasize that while parents invest deeply in their children's lives, this investment ultimately leads to a gradual separation, which can evoke feelings of loss.

- Parenting intertwines love and loss, as growth in children leads to increased independence.
- The act of picking up a child for the last time symbolizes a poignant moment of transition.
- Parents experience emotional responses as they recognize these "last times" with their children.
- The speaker suggests that acknowledging these feelings is important for processing the bittersweet nature of parenting.
- Growth in children is framed as a positive outcome, even as it brings about feelings of grief for parents.
- The concept of "tiny grief moments" highlights the emotional weight of parenting milestones.
- Embracing the duality of joy and loss can help parents navigate their feelings as their children grow.