Failure to launch

I remember the day my son turned 18 like it was yesterday. He was so excited to finally be an adult and move out of the house. He had been planning for this day for years, and he couldn't wait to start his new life. I was excited for him too, but I was also a little bit sad. I knew that this was the day that he would start to grow up and become his own man, and I would miss him terribly.

He went off to college, and he did great. He made new friends, got good grades, and even joined a few clubs. But after a year, he came home for the summer and announced that he was dropping out. He said that he didn't know what he wanted to do with his life, and he didn't want to waste his time and money on college anymore.

I was disappointed, but I supported his decision. I told him that he could always go back to college if he changed his mind, and that I would help him find a job in the meantime. He got a job as a waiter, and he seemed to be doing okay. But after a few months, he started to get depressed. He said that he didn't like his job, and he didn't know what he wanted to do with his life.

I tried to help him find a new job, but he wasn't interested in anything. He just wanted to sit around the house and play video games. I was starting to get worried about him. He was 19 years old, and he had no job, no plans for the future, and no motivation. I didn't know what to do.

One day, I was talking to a friend of mine who is a therapist. She told me that my son might be experiencing "failure to launch." She said that this is a condition that affects young adults who are struggling to become independent and self-sufficient. She gave me some tips on how to help him, and I started putting them into practice.

I talked to my son about his goals and helped him to develop a plan to achieve them. I encouraged him to get involved in activities that he enjoyed, and I helped him to find a job that he was passionate about. I also made sure to give him plenty of positive reinforcement and support.

It took some time, but my son eventually started to turn things around. He went back to college, and he's now on track to graduate. He also got a job that he loves, and he's making plans for the future. I'm so proud of him for everything he's accomplished, and I'm grateful for the help that I received from my friend.

If you're the parent of a young adult who is struggling to launch, don't give up on them. There is hope. With patience, support, and guidance, they can overcome this challenge and achieve their full potential.

Here are some tips for helping your young adult launch:

• Talk to them about their goals and help them to develop a plan to achieve them.
• Encourage them to get involved in activities that they enjoy.
• Help them to find a job that they are passionate about.
• Give them plenty of positive reinforcement and support.
• Don't give up on them.