<p>Let them make a few mistakes and know that it will be painful for you! I constantly battle my own maternal need to take care of my sons, no matter how old they are. I cry when they are sick and away from home (once I even called a take-out restaurant for my first when he had the flu–long distance–NY to Chicago–!! Learning to recognize when it’s your need and not theirs is a long road for some of us, but it is worth it to realize that they are growing independent and filled with self esteem.</p>