As parents, it can be challenging to watch our teenage or young adult children underperform at work, struggle with loneliness, or fail to contribute to the household. However, it's crucial to strike a balance between offering emotional and practical support and allowing them to make their own life choices. This healthy boundary is not just important, it's fundamental. The family is a complex system, where behaviors of children often mirror, or even amplify, the latent dysfunctions in the unit. It's important to acknowledge that any unwelcome behavior displayed by kids or young adults could be an expression of a deeper issue within the family. Attempting to impose our preferences or demands on our children's choices often backfires, creating resistance, and engendering emotional distance. As the gap widens, our efforts to provide meaningful, useful help become increasingly difficult, leaving both parties frustrated and misunderstood. Our role as parents undergoes a profound shift as our teenagers mature into young adults. The days of giving orders or dictating their actions are behind us. However, this doesn't mean relinquishing our roles as guides or advisers. Instead, we must adjust our approach, focusing on empathy and understanding, while also maintaining boundaries. Letting go of fixed ideas about how our children should live their lives is a challenge, particularly when we see them suffering or underachieving. However, it's crucial to offer empathy, approach them with curiosity, and encourage problem-solving, while resisting the urge to present our solutions as the only viable way forward. By allowing our young adults to make their own choices and mistakes, while remaining lovingly present in their lives, we create a space for them to be more open to our influence. Instead of imposing changes, leading by example can be a potent motivator for growth and change. Moreover, seeking personal growth through therapy can be beneficial for parents, as it helps to let go of the need for their children to be a certain way. This proactive step could be transformative, even when parents initially see no need for it. This approach can result in a ripple effect. As we lead by example and demonstrate personal development, our children may be inspired to seek therapy or other growth opportunities themselves. In essence, parenting young adults is a delicate balance of letting go and offering support. It's about being there for them, being kind, empathetic, and boundaried, while simultaneously fostering their independence and autonomy. We need to remember that our young adults are carving out their own unique paths, and it's our privilege as parents to be a part of their journey, not the architects of it.
(This article has been written with the help of AI language model based on my orginal notes.)