The term, ADULTING, is rather new. I started hearing it the last few years and most notably with my youngest daughter who is approaching 26 years of age. I’m not sure who came up with the term, but it’s the perfect description for what’s going on today with young adults.
As a mother of 3 twenty-something adults and having worked with countless teens over the years in my classrooms and on the job, I’ve never before seen kids so anxious about what lies ahead. They feel totally unprepared and overwhelmed.
As adults, we need to make sure we don’t dismiss their fears; they’re legitimate. Do not go on about how YOU learned these things all on your own back in the day. That’s an immediate turn-off and will not help their situation.
If you know a young adult facing these concerns make a point of finding out what worries them most and get them the resources to tackle the problems. The schools aren’t teaching this and as parents, we’ve dropped the ball as well. Investing in a good financial advisor, a life coach, career coach, counselor or a combination of the above is probably well-worth your investment and I’m certain they’ll be appreciative down the road. There are also online classes that cover topics like cooking, laundry, basic finance, etc. Help them do the research to find what works best for them.
Have them share in the expenses so they’re more vested and accountable. Most importantly, encourage and support them. Accountability is key – have them demonstrate what they’ve learned by cooking, cleaning and doing laundry for you. Urge them to visit apartments available for lease and work on an expense sheet to calculate monthly income and expenses, when they’d be ready to venture out on their own, if they need a roommate, how to find a roommate, and learn how to talk to a landlord when a problem arises.
The challenge of millennials trying to learn basic life skills is real. As adults settled into the routine of adulting, it’s our job to share what we can and give these young adults the tools they need to move forward to become successful adults. It may be the most difficult task we’ve encountered as parents or grandparents, but one that will pay off mightily at the end.