Launching Adult Children

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Launching Adult Children

• FCS233

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Empty Nest

• Begins when first child leaves home
• Ends when last child leaves home

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Developing Adult Relationships with Children

• Key skill to master
• May be challenged to accept new members into
  family

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Helicoptering

• When the technology to stay in touch crashes into
  affluent boomer parents who refuse to let go

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Emerging Adults

• Young people still tethered to the nest for
  decision-making emotional support

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Boomerang Kids

• Young adults who left home to go to college, get
  married, or just be independent moving back in
  with mom dad

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of Adult Children Living with Parent

• 2000 Census
• 18-24 year olds
• 55 of men
• 46 of women
• Recent college graduates
• 65 have moved back home

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Reasons Children Move Back Home

• Economic
• Unemployed
• Debt
• Divorce
• Illness
• Unprepared
• Let them make choices and reap consequences
• Cautious or clueless about a career
• Start talking about careers when child is 13
• Provide career coaching services
• Personal problems

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Caution for Parents

• Parents happy to help out
• Emotionally
• Financially
• Risks
• Family tension
• Misunderstandings
• Money
• Can derail parents plan jeopardize financial
  future

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Success Factors

• Kid pays rent or contributes to household in
  tangible way
• Kid gets along with mom
• Return is temporary one-time event
• Parents are in long-term marriage
• Safety net while kid makes a transition based on
  clear-cut need
• Kid is cheerful good company

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How To Make It Work

• Set house rules put them in writing make it a
  contract
• Set a departure date
• Insist on responsibilities this area can result
  in misunderstandings if adult children expect to
  be taken care of
• Help them restructure debt
• Do not sacrifice parents future

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The End!