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Parents of adult children

Wondering how to stop worrying about your grown child? Speak to others in our Parents of Adult Children forum.

Guide to parenting adult children

52 replies

Kiki105 · 13/05/2024 18:58

I could moan all day long on this forum about my lazy, disrespectful, ungrateful DD and DS (20 and 22 respectively) who still live at home, but what I really need is a good advice book on how to parent adult children. Any recommendations gratefully received.

OP posts:
Shopper727 · 13/05/2024 19:00

They don’t need parenting they need to move out, - feel your pain I have 19 yo and 22 yo

Kiki105 · 13/05/2024 20:07

Which is very difficult for young adults to able to afford to do these days.

OP posts:
Lentilweaver · 14/05/2024 11:14

What do you do for them and how much money do you give them? Can you stop doing/giving so much?

I have realised that if anyone in my family is ungrateful for what I do , I simply stop doing it, if at all possible.

CadyEastman · 15/05/2024 07:26

No idea on a book sorry. What sort of things do you need help with?

Kitkat1523 · 15/05/2024 07:44

You don’t parent adult children …..you can have house rules…..then they shape up or ship out….

Rocknrollstar · 15/05/2024 07:48

You don’t parent adult offspring, you parent children so they grow up into pleasant adults.

mumonthehill · 15/05/2024 07:53

I agree you have house rules and you give and receive respect. It is very difficult to live with dc of that age so you need flex on each side. You need to communicate well and have reasonable expectations. The reality is if they do not like it they move out. If working they pay some rent. You do not need to practical parent them, but you will always be there for them but step back from cooking, cleaning, laundry.

TallYellowMouse · 15/05/2024 07:55

I wonder if we should write the book we wish we could read! @Kiki105

FatAndFiftySomething · 15/05/2024 07:57

Kiki105 · 13/05/2024 20:07

Which is very difficult for young adults to able to afford to do these days.

Well if they don’t abide by very simple rules then I’d suggest their finances are not really your problem. They have a choice in whether to make life easier for themselves or not.

And telling them they have to find alternative accommodation due to their laziness, disrespect and ungratefulness IS parenting.

As someone else said, shape up or ship out.

determinedtomakethiswork · 15/05/2024 07:59

Lazy people in their early 20s have never been able to buy property.

You don't have to let them stay at home. Honestly it's your house, they are adults and if they are disrespecting you by not pulling their weight then it's time for them to move out and find their own place. Everybody does that, it doesn't mean you have to break the parent child relationship .

Nannyfannybanny · 15/05/2024 08:01

You stop treating them like children,my oldest is now 53! She left home originally at 16,live in job at stables. When she was living at home, working she paid towards the bills. When she comes to stay now, she used to go into lazy teenager mode, wet towels everywhere etc. I now tell her off!

hannahwaddinghamsbiceps · 15/05/2024 08:03

Any tips on enforcing rules?? Can't exactly ground them or remove privileges like lifts.
Already I refuse to cook or do washing for them, they don't keep anything clean or tidy in their room, and won't help with household jobs. They pay rent but can't afford to move out. Not saving money either.
Endless discussions about behaving like an adult but no change in behaviour.
Can't physically remove them from the house!!

Londonnight · 15/05/2024 08:04

You should have parented better when they were younger to show respect. As adults it is too late. You need to treat them as adults and tell them how to behave in your house and to pull their weight with chores etc.

I have a very respectful 23 yr old who will do anything willingly at home and works incredibly hard at work and uni.

WittiestUsernameEver · 15/05/2024 08:07

They don't need to buy somewhere, they can more than likely afford to rent a room.

So they buck up or fuck off....

Stop doing stuff for them, ie, no washing, no cooking, no giving lifts... Until they start contributing like a grown up.

WittiestUsernameEver · 15/05/2024 08:10

hannahwaddinghamsbiceps · 15/05/2024 08:03

Any tips on enforcing rules?? Can't exactly ground them or remove privileges like lifts.
Already I refuse to cook or do washing for them, they don't keep anything clean or tidy in their room, and won't help with household jobs. They pay rent but can't afford to move out. Not saving money either.
Endless discussions about behaving like an adult but no change in behaviour.
Can't physically remove them from the house!!

Of course you can stop giving them lifts... ? They're adults and can walk, cycle, get a bus, get a taxi, ask a friend for a lift...
Other things you might do...

stop paying for stuff such as phone contracts.
Stop buying food for them.
Stop their internet access.
Stop them having friends/partners over.

They presumably work, so are earning money, so they can pay for stuff themselves.

Put everything they leave around the house in their room, including dirty dishes etc.

WittiestUsernameEver · 15/05/2024 08:10

I'll bet they have plenty of money to lay for a rented room...

hannahwaddinghamsbiceps · 15/05/2024 08:16

@WittiestUsernameEver

Of course you can stop giving them lifts... ? They're adults and can walk, cycle, get a bus, get a taxi, ask a friend for a lift...
Other things you might do...

stop paying for stuff such as phone contracts.
Stop buying food for them.
Stop their internet access.
Stop them having friends/partners over.

They presumably work, so are earning money, so they can pay for stuff themselves.

Put everything they leave around the house in their room, including dirty dishes etc.
They drive, pay for their own phone and don't have any friends over. I don't buy food for them. That is my point. If I put all the dirty dishes in their room I wouldn't have a cup to drink from.
Never occurs to them to wash their bedding or towels, their room is disgusting. If I ask them to do something about it they sulk and refuse for a few days.
Not my child but their parent won't kick them out.

Frostandfrogs · 15/05/2024 08:57

In my experience, it started to feel like everyone living in student digs during the 17-24 phase. We all did our own thing. They all knew how to use the cooker and washing machine, and it was a case of every man for himself. It was a little wild for a while, but everyone wanted to be independent, ultimately. It is tough to get out, but everyone has managed it, in general by moving out with a partner. It is extremely difficult financially these days, so they have all come and gone a bit. We never charge rent as it's usually because they have fallen on hard times for one reason or another.
It does take really good communication skills to ride over that change between child and adult, but we aim to base it on mutual respect, which has worked well for us so far.

It's a whole new dynamic to navigate, and you have to kind of disconnect the parent/child relationship in order to reconnect as adults. I don't think that comes from threats, laying down the law, etc, but by keeping in mind that it's difficult for everybody.

There are basic respects like keeping each other informed re comings and goings, regular partners being welcome to stay over, but nobody unexpected. They tend to lurk in their rooms, and that is their own affair re levels of grot ( ime they grow out of the teenage level of untidiness by mid 20s) Closed doors are respected. DH and I generally cook and they join us or not, but they keep us in the loop.

In short we have found it's a continuation of the good relationships we've built since childhood, and the whole thing is quite stable now. Currently adult child free, and that's better all round, but I really want to emphasise that early 20s are a time for ongoing negotiations regarding how to live in a respectful and loving manner.

All the best OP!

AuntieMarys · 15/05/2024 09:04

Just tell them! Lay down ground rules.

Lentilweaver · 15/05/2024 11:01

It's hard these days. I fondly remember leaving home at 22 and DH left at 18. I won't and will never charge rent as I am Asian and it doesn't sit right with me. ( I can afford it). One is living with me and one may move back. I also pay for the internet and house bills. They do their own laundry, sheets, and keep their rooms reasonably clean, though still not up to my standards. I have learnt to ignore the pile of clothes in the corner though, and the cosmetics scattered everywhere.

I don't give them lifts as we live in central London and they get the Tube everywhere or walk. DH or I cook an evening meal for everyone; they get their own breakfast and lunch. Sometimes I don't do that either.

It's an ongoing process and we have had our ups and downs. I had disrespect in the past and have put my foot down, but it's getting better now.

Did you have a name change fail, OP?

WittiestUsernameEver · 15/05/2024 11:42

hannahwaddinghamsbiceps · 15/05/2024 08:16

@WittiestUsernameEver

Of course you can stop giving them lifts... ? They're adults and can walk, cycle, get a bus, get a taxi, ask a friend for a lift...
Other things you might do...

stop paying for stuff such as phone contracts.
Stop buying food for them.
Stop their internet access.
Stop them having friends/partners over.

They presumably work, so are earning money, so they can pay for stuff themselves.

Put everything they leave around the house in their room, including dirty dishes etc.
They drive, pay for their own phone and don't have any friends over. I don't buy food for them. That is my point. If I put all the dirty dishes in their room I wouldn't have a cup to drink from.
Never occurs to them to wash their bedding or towels, their room is disgusting. If I ask them to do something about it they sulk and refuse for a few days.
Not my child but their parent won't kick them out.

Oh, not even your child? Why do you care then?

hannahwaddinghamsbiceps · 15/05/2024 11:43

@WittiestUsernameEver because it's my house too!

WittiestUsernameEver · 15/05/2024 11:44

hannahwaddinghamsbiceps · 15/05/2024 11:43

@WittiestUsernameEver because it's my house too!

Well, then talk your useless fucking husband then! It's clearly him not stepping up and making them do it... go on at him about it.

hannahwaddinghamsbiceps · 15/05/2024 11:47

@WittiestUsernameEver we have tried being nice, explaining why, ranting, swearing, he tries, I try.
To refer to the OP how do you make an adult do what they don't want to?
I'm not here to blame, I'm here for some solutions, when the obvious one of getting them to move out is not available.

WittiestUsernameEver · 15/05/2024 11:48

hannahwaddinghamsbiceps · 15/05/2024 11:47

@WittiestUsernameEver we have tried being nice, explaining why, ranting, swearing, he tries, I try.
To refer to the OP how do you make an adult do what they don't want to?
I'm not here to blame, I'm here for some solutions, when the obvious one of getting them to move out is not available.

Well, is it a deal breaker for your marriage ... ?

Its far more difficult if you haven't got the co-operation of their parents.