There’s nothing quite so sweet as a tired and tight cuddle on the couch from your kid. They need me. And it’s true — kids need their parents from toddlerdom (to stay alive) to elementary age (to learn their freedom) through teendom (to stay alive). But how bad do your kids need you? Lots of closeness and even a bit of clinginess is to be expected. But when it goes to far, they risk becoming codependent and unable to thrive on their own. Fortunately, simple tactics will get you past this and let your kids thrive — whether their at home, or in the wild.