The transition from childhood to adulthood can be challenging - even under the best of circumstances. Many young adults living at home are not emotionally or financially ready to live independently. When parent expectations for adult children don't line up with what the child is thinking or doing, conflict can arise. This often leads to disrespectful behavior and noncompliance. In the articles below, Empowering Parents experts discuss effective ways to establish clear limits and boundaries in relation to young adult behavior. These parenting resources will help guide you and your child through this transition.
If you listen to the news or read the paper, you know that more and more kids are living at home for longer periods of time. We often hear from parents of adult children who want to know how they can set guidelines down with their older kids, and when they should ask them to leave. If... Read more »
Dear Coaches: I am at my wit's end. I have been trying to get my 19 year old son to get a job for months now. He says he's trying, but I can't be sure, as I am not home during the day to supervise him. I also just found out that he has been... Read more »
“I love my son, but things are getting really rough. I never expected him to still be living at home in his twenties. I don’t mind helping him while he gets on his feet, but most of the time he acts like he’s still thirteen – and he’s twenty three! This is not what I... Read more »
Many parents struggle with their just-turned-18, newly-minted adult children refusing to follow house rules and waving the, "I'm an adult. You can't tell me what to do," banner every time the parent confronts an issue of broken rules or disrespect. For many families, the transition from adolescence into adulthood is one of the more difficult ones for both parent... Read more »
This is the third and final installment in a three-part series of articles by James Lehman, MSW, on the difficult topic of adult children living at home. In this segment, James addresses the issue of setting up a living agreement with your child. For those parents who haven’t set up a structured agreement when their child... Read more »
Do you have an adult child living with you? If you're in constant conflict with an older child over everything from curfews (should they have one or shouldn’t they?), to getting a job, to alcohol use, James Lehman offers advice on how to set reasonable limits and how to coach your child to responsibility and... Read more »
I’ve spoken with quite a few parents over the past couple of months on the parent coaching service who have been struggling with a son or daughter who decided they didn’t want to go to college. Many of these parents have said they feel a sense of disappointment and failure, almost like they are to blame for this change of... Read more »
