Dr. Kimberley Taylor's video: KIDS WHO FAIL TO LAUNCH

WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM TODAY. WE’RE INTO THE MONTH OF MAY AND IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR WHEN MANY PROUD PARENTS AND STUDENTS ARE PLANNING FOR THEIR BIG GRADUATION DAY AND ALL THAT LIES AHEAD. MANY WILL HAVE PLANS TO ENTER COLLEGE IN THE FALL, WHILE STILL OTHERS WILL BE COUNTING THE DAYS WHEN THEY WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE AWAY FROM THEIR PARENT’S HOME AND BEGIN A NEW LIFE ON THEIR OWN. BUT TODAY WE ARE TAKING UP THE TOPIC OF YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE FAILING TO LAUNCH THEMSELVES INTO AN INDEPENDENT AND FULFILLING LIFE AND INSTEAD, THEY ARE CHOOSING TO STAY HOME AND LIVE WITH THEIR PARENTS WELL INTO THEIR TWENTIES AND THIRTIES OR BEYOND. THE TERM ‘FAILURE TO LAUNCH’ IS A POPULAR WAY TO DESCRIBE THE DIFFICULTIES SOME YOUNG PEOPLE FACE WHEN TRYING TO TRANSITION INTO THE NEXT PHASE OF THEIR LIFE THAT TYPICALLY INVOLVES GREATER INDEPENDENCE AND RESPONSIBILITY AWAY FROM HOME. YOU MAY REMEMBER THE MOVIE, FAILURE TO LAUNCH, WITH MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY PORTRAYING A MAN IN HIS THIRTIES. AND IN THE MOVIE, THE PARENTS ARE DESPERATELY TRYING TO GET HIM TO MOVE OUT OF THEIR HOUSE AND BE ON HIS OWN. BUT HE’S QUITE HAPPY TO BE HAVING HIS PARENTS SUPPORT HIM AND FIX HIS MEALS AND DO HIS LAUNDRY WHILE HE CONTINUES TO PLAY WITH HIS FRIENDS AND SLEEP IN. WHAT ABOUT THOSE KIDS WHO ARE EITHER NOT LEAVING, OR THEY ARE RETURNING HOME AFTER COLLEGE AND STILL LIVING WITH THEIR PARENTS YEARS LATER. ARE YOU ONE OF THOSE PARENTS WHO IS FRUSTRATED AND WONDERING WHAT YOU SHOULD DO WITH YOUR CHILD WHO SHOWS LITTLE INTEREST IN MOVING OUT OF YOUR HOME AND BECOMING AN INDEPENDENT, SELF-SUFFICIENT ADULT? FAMILIES ARE MORE CONFUSED THAN EVER TO UNDERSTAND THIS GROWING TREND AMONGST THE ‘MILLENNIAL GENERATION’ OF YOUNG ADULTS BORN BETWEEN 1980 – 2000. BUT IT IS A REAL-LIFE ISSUE FOR MANY YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY, WHO EITHER LACK THE DESIRE OR, THE NECESSARY SKILLS TO LEAVE HOME AND HAVE A SUCCESSFUL AND PRODUCTIVE LIFE. JOINING ME TODAY IS DR. ROBERT FISCHER, DIRECTOR AT OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE INSTITUTE TO HELP US UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE OF “FAILURE TO LAUNCH” AND WHY SO MANY ADULT KIDS ARE STILL LIVING WITH THEIR PARENTS TODAY AND WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE A PARENT OF A CHILD WHO HAS FAILED TO LAUNCH.