National Preparedness Month: Why My Sons Have “Permission Slips” for Life

When my two sons turned 18, I made sure they each had a Power of Attorney and an Advance Health Care Directive in place. At that point, nothing happened—except life. One bought a house, the other got married and had two kids.

Along the way, I reminded them that their documents needed to be updated to reflect their new lives. But like many parents, I didn’t push too hard. After all, these are not easy conversations.

Then, last year, my son and his wife were preparing for their 5th wedding anniversary trip—their first time away from the kids. That’s when I finally spoke up firmly. I told them they needed the basics: updated Powers of Attorney, Health Care Directives, and, most importantly, a Will that named guardians for the children.

I knew the guardianship decision was hard. To make it easier, I reassured my son that I supported whatever choice they made—even if it meant selecting her parents, who lived nearb...