Difficulties On The Young Adult's Path To Independence

By Saleem Rana


Pam Broker, the founder, owner, and director of Milestones for Young Adults in Idaho, which is a young adult program, was interviewed by Lon Woodbury and Liz McGhee on Parent Choices for Struggling Adolescents on L.A. Talk Radio. She discussed what young adults need to do to grow up and become fully independent adults. The host of the show, Lon Woodbury, is the founder of Woodbury Reports, and he has helped families and struggling teens since 1984. His co-host, Elizabeth McGhee, is the Director of Admissions and Reference Relations at Sandhill Youngster Development Facility. Liz has well over 19 years of consulting experience. The show for struggling teens and their parents is sponsored by Father Flanagan's Boys Town in Nebraska.

Guest Profile

Pamela Broker is the owner and Executive Director of Milestones for Young Adults, a young adult transition program. Having worked with teens, young adults and their families for numerous years, Pamela has worked at six different programs in the Northwest as the Admissions Director before founding Milestones.

Challenges on the Young Adult's Road to Self-Reliance

The young adult's path to independence in the United States is strewn with difficulties. The classic path of maturity-working, getting married, raising children, and contributing to society-is becoming increasingly difficult for young people to follow. There are many reasons for this situation. It may be due to society's influence-it takes longer to get a good education and entry level jobs barely pay for the cost of food and shelter and life's necessities. It may be due to the impact of telecommunication devices-it's possible for a child to get all their needs met vicariously through Internet access. It may be due to over-functioning parents doing everything for their children. It may be due to the child having psychological problems like learning disorders or addictions. However, Pamela also believed, a large part of the issue may simply be due to the child's reluctance to leave home. "They are comfortable where they are," she explained. "Why would they do something different? They get an allowance, a roof over their head, a warm bed, and tasty meals."

Pamela provided a number of pointers for parents: offer children bottom line ordinances, allow them to play the game of life, and permit them to learn from their mistakes if they run out of money. She recommended that parents make it clear to their kids that their child's mayhem is not the parent's. She outlined how parents could get external help from their regional community, from teachers, therapists, and life coaches, and from organizations, groups, and companies devoted to helping young people develop into responsible adults.

Wrapping it Up

The discussion covered the many possibilities about adolescent's "failure to launch." It also covered the adverse effect of helicopter parenting, the distracting influence of telecommunication devices, and the growing alienation experienced in modern culture. Lastly, it touched on how a child's mind does not fully develop up until they are twenty-five years old. Other topics covered were how parenting has actually changed over the last few decades, and exactly what parents can do to help their children grow up and be part of the world.




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