Have you noticed that parenting our young adults doesn’t end at age 18?  I know.

So why is this? The answer is that today, whether they attend college or not, it takes time for young adults to build a solid financial footing and a significant yearly income.

The four-year college plan, or worse, graduate school, postpones their financial independence by anywhere from 6 to 10 years.

So the average age of financial independence for young adults is closer to 26. Many of you are still supporting (subsidizing) their lives.

So here’s the good and bad news. Number one, they’re still going to stay connected with you, partially because they need your financial support. You may be contributing, or at least co-sign, for tuition, cars, travel, and apartments.  Second, any preaching to them regarding “responsible spending” will annoy them or make them feel guilty. This can also create distance in your relationship. So what should you do?

Below is a 20-minute audio talk I gave at an Al-Anon meeting in 2021. It covers my own personal failure and later successes in connecting with my young adult children. Young adults, especially young men under 30 today, seem particularly lost. Many experts, including myself, are trying to make sense of their struggles to commit to work, build relationships, and get their lives moving.  (Click here to read my article on the life crisis of today’s young adult men) Contact me if you would like additional help connecting with your young adult.