“My son literally hasn’t showered in weeks. He’s up all night gaming and sleeps all day. He refuses to get a job. He doesn’t even think it’s a problem. He lives on energy drinks and he’s making himself sick.”

If this sounds like your house, you’re not alone. I hear from parents every day facing thi...

Something I don’t think parents understand…but is vitally important…is this:

The quality of your relationship often dictates the level of your emerging adult’s cooperation.

Let that sink in.

Think about it…

If they’re not emotionally invested in the relationship with you, why would they wash the...

A parent recently wrote to me:

“We have a 23-year-old daughter who’s living with us again after lying about attending university. She’s since come clean, is working two jobs, and trying to start fresh. She owes us for months of expenses while she wasn’t really in school. Should we ask her to pay us...

When your emerging adult stumbles, it’s instinctual:
You want to rush in.
To help.
To soften the blow.
To protect them from pain.

They didn’t get into the college they dreamed of.
They’re reeling from a breakup.
They made a huge mistake and now have to face the consequences.

And you—being the loving, in...

It’s one of the most common—and most awkward—questions I get from parents:
"If my adult child is living at home and not paying rent… do I have the right to search their room?"

The short answer?
Yes.
But there’s a longer, more thoughtful answer that matters even more.

Let me walk you through a real-li...

Let’s be honest—last summer? It nearly broke you.

The late nights.
The endless gaming.
The "I applied for jobs" with no follow-through.
The pile of laundry, wet towels, missed curfews, and constant tension.

You didn’t sign up to run Hotel Mom & Dad. And this year?
It’s going to be different.

But here...