The practice of loving adult children for their own sake rather than for filial duty or reciprocal benefit, rooted in pure devotion.
Rabia al-Adawiyya taught love of the Divine without hope of reward or fear of punishment—a revolutionary concept of pure devotion. Applied to adult relationships with adult children, this means releasing transactional expectations and loving them as complete beings with their own paths. Parents often struggle with unspoken demands: emotional support, gratitude, or validation through their children's choices. Unconditional love here means accepting their autonomy, their decisions, their divergences from your hopes without withholding affection. This doesn't mean passive acceptance of harm, but rather separating the person from their choices. The parent becomes a witness to their child's life rather than a director of it. This transforms adult relationships from hierarchical dependency into genuine kinship, honoring both the legacy of care and the freedom necessary for mature connection.
Peri can explain this concept, give practical examples, help you decide whether it applies to your situation, or recommend a journey if appropriate.
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