Are you the parent of a young adult who has recently moved back home? If so, you’re not alone. Turns out, according to a 2015 study from the Pew Research Center, one in four young adults age 18 to 34 are now living with their parents.
The reasons young adults are moving home in record numbers is part economics – massive student loan debt and outrageous rents in many major cities. But Jeffrey Griffith, Education and Career Specialist at Yellowbrick, says it’s also partly a result of closer relationships that this generation of parents have developed with their children.
“Millennials are much closer to their parents than previous generations were, and that’s a good thing,” Griffith says. “They’re more open to accepting help and parents seem more receptive to helping.”
And although having your children move back home with you may seem like a great idea financially, beware that it can come with significant challenges, too. Not only can tensions develop between parents and kids over rules and boundaries, but if not handled correctly, children can also regress and have less motivation to get out on their own.
If you’re thinking about letting your young adult child move back in with you, we asked Griffith and Dr. Bryn Jessup, Director of Family Services at Yellowbrick, for their tips to help make it successful for both of you:
Yellowbrick collaborates with adolescents and emerging adults, ages 16-30's, their families and participating professionals toward the development and implementation of a strategic “Life Plan.” An integrative, multi-specialty consultation clarifies strengths, limitations, and risks, and defines motivations, goals and choices.
A mental health condition that’s characterized by intense shifts in mood including both manic and depressive episodes.
People living with Major Depressive Disorder, or MDD, experience episodes of depression and sadness that are debilitating to daily life.
Those living with anxiety disorders experience high levels of anxiety and stress that interfere negatively with daily life.
A mental health issue in which a person’s cognitive function is impaired, resulting in symptoms like experiencing challenges with conducting speech, reading and writing, and behavior.
Mental health disorders that negatively affect a person’s behaviors, thought patterns, and function. People diagnosed with these disorders experience challenges with managing relationships and understanding various situations.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a mental health condition that people can develop as a result of experiencing traumatic situations, characterized by symptoms including flashbacks, avoidance behaviors, and more.
A mental health condition that is characterized by specific symptoms of forgetfulness and lack of concentration, which makes it challenging to complete necessary tasks.
Mental health conditions that interfere with a person’s eating habits, thought patterns, and behaviors in negative ways.
A mental health disorder diagnosable with the DSM-5 that is characterized by both obsessions and compulsive behaviors.