Moving Home after College: What does it mean? And, what can parents do?

Dear Dr. Friedman: My son is a college senior. He hasn't spent any time looking for a job. His plan is to move back in with me and his father. Should I allow this? Or, should I throw the lout out? His grades are not very good and he has switched majors a half dozen times. He doesn"t know what he wants to do. I say that he should wait tables until he figures it out. Tough Love Mama Dear Tough This is a complicated question. Also, it is a very common problem. In fact, in the office, I see several parents and newly graduated seniors struggling with this question every June. It depends why your son wants/needs to return to the family home. I sense by the tone of your letter that you are feeling frustrated with him. However, my guess is that there are reasons behind your son's reluctance to establish himself on his own. In order to make this decision, you and your husband need to have a serious talk with him, hopefully in person and, soon. Together you both need to approach him in a supportive and non-adversarial way. Ask him what makes him want to return home. Although many kids move out on their own upon graduation, not all kids are ready to do so. If this is the case, you need to help him to get himself ready. If he isn't ready, what will it take to help him to become ready? Some young adults are just a bit scared and need some reassurance that you will be there for support, even if you are not living under the same roof. Others are truly not yet ready to set out on their own. If this is the case with your son, you need to be supportive by laying out ground rules. Don't just give him a "free ride". If he is truly troubled about becoming independent you may make getting psychotherapy, to work on issues of separation and independence, a requisite to moving back in with you. Also, you may want to require that he pay room and board even if you don't need the money. (You can always quietly put the money in a savings account and give it to him when he gets his first apartment.) This will help him get into the habit of taking on adult responsibility. In discussing this with him, try to remember that all kids have mixed feelings about becoming independent, in part they want to be on their own, in part, they are frightened of the awesome responsibility. Try to be supportive. Dr. Friedman

Design your ideal work-life: Try these strategies

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