Emptying The Nest

Family Dynamics

How Money History Can Eliminate Money Mystery

Brad E Sachs Ph.D. on May 2, 2024

You can't finish the job of launching young adults without addressing their finances. But that process can only proceed when parents address financial matters with each other.

You can't finish the job of launching young adults without addressing their finances. But that process can only proceed when parents address financial matters with each other.

Family Dynamics

Money May Talk, But What Is It Saying and Who Is Listening?

Brad E Sachs Ph.D. on March 26, 2024

Effective financial communication is key when parents are launching young adults.

Effective financial communication is key when parents are launching young adults.

Parenting

Show Me the Money—and Deciding How Much Money to Show

Brad E Sachs Ph.D. on March 19, 2024

Money is one of the primary sources of conflict in the co-parenting relationship. Resolving those conflicts is a necessary step toward successfully launching young adults.

Money is one of the primary sources of conflict in the co-parenting relationship. Resolving those conflicts is a necessary step toward successfully launching young adults.

Adolescence

How Financial Support May Affect Emotional Maturity

Brad E Sachs Ph.D. on February 11, 2024

Financial management and emotional management are intimately connected. To use money well in the launching phase, we need to be aware of the emotions associated with providing it.

Financial management and emotional management are intimately connected. To use money well in the launching phase, we need to be aware of the emotions associated with providing it.

Family Dynamics

Money Matters, Especially When It’s Time to Leave Home

Brad E Sachs Ph.D. on February 7, 2024

Money means different things to different people. Knowing more about your personal relationship with money helps you to use it to promote your adult child's ambition and autonomy.

Money means different things to different people. Knowing more about your personal relationship with money helps you to use it to promote your adult child's ambition and autonomy.

Family Dynamics

Do You Do Too Much for Your Adult Child?

Brad E Sachs Ph.D. on February 2, 2024

Taking on responsibility is a key constituent of adulthood, but re-distributing responsibility so the adult child carries the lion's share can be a challenge.

Taking on responsibility is a key constituent of adulthood, but re-distributing responsibility so the adult child carries the lion's share can be a challenge.

Anxiety

How to Manage the Certainty of Uncertainty

Brad E Sachs Ph.D. on June 19, 2020

Part 2: When young adults are exiled back home due to the shuttering schools and disappearing jobs that resulted from COVID-19, both generations experience instability and need to adapt.

Part 2: When young adults are exiled back home due to the shuttering schools and disappearing jobs that resulted from COVID-19, both generations experience instability and need to adapt.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

What Happens When COVID-19 Suddenly Fills the Empty Nest?

Brad E Sachs Ph.D. on June 8, 2020

With countless young adults returning home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, both generations must adjust to an unanticipated state of family captivity.

With countless young adults returning home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, both generations must adjust to an unanticipated state of family captivity.

Education

Holding Your Fire: Try Not to Shoot Down a Trial Balloon

Brad E Sachs Ph.D. on September 7, 2018

Focusing on the fact that your young adult is creating a vision for her future, rather than on the vision itself, raises the odds that her future will be bright.

Focusing on the fact that your young adult is creating a vision for her future, rather than on the vision itself, raises the odds that her future will be bright.

Child Development

Born to Run, Born to Return: The Paradox of Freehold

Brad E Sachs Ph.D. on June 19, 2018

A legendary musician helps us to understand that true freedom requires us to honor the forces that keep us in captivity.

A legendary musician helps us to understand that true freedom requires us to honor the forces that keep us in captivity.

Your young adult may be experiencing more fear about leaving home than s/he acknowledges—either to you or to him/herself. Here are some common "tells" and how to respond to them.

Motivation

10 Rules for Engagement...and for Disengagement

Brad E Sachs Ph.D. on April 2, 2018

Frustrated by the imbalance of responsibility carried by you and your young adult? Here is a straightforward framework that can help to re-balance this crucial commodity.

Frustrated by the imbalance of responsibility carried by you and your young adult? Here is a straightforward framework that can help to re-balance this crucial commodity.

Relationships

In and Out of Love...With Your Young Adult's Love Life

Brad E Sachs Ph.D. on March 6, 2018

Are you struggling to come to terms with your young adult's intimate partnership? This may say as much about you as it does about your child.

Are you struggling to come to terms with your young adult's intimate partnership? This may say as much about you as it does about your child.

Alcoholism

It's All Relative...Sometimes

Brad E Sachs Ph.D. on February 5, 2018

Haunted by family ghosts that interfere with your changing relationship with your young adult? Being alert to the presence of the past lays the groundwork for a better future

Haunted by family ghosts that interfere with your changing relationship with your young adult? Being alert to the presence of the past lays the groundwork for a better future

Child Development

Meet Your Family's Future at a Family Meeting

Brad E Sachs Ph.D. on January 16, 2018

Even when children approach adulthood, reflecting on your family's past and present lays the the groundwork for a richer and more satisfying family future—for both generations

Even when children approach adulthood, reflecting on your family's past and present lays the the groundwork for a richer and more satisfying family future—for both generations

Motivation

Why You Feel Helpless When Your Young Adult Won't Help

Brad E Sachs Ph.D. on December 4, 2017

Frustrated by your young adult treating your home like a boarding house? Careful consideration of your expectations and how you express them can make living together more livable.

Frustrated by your young adult treating your home like a boarding house? Careful consideration of your expectations and how you express them can make living together more livable.

Depression

How a Parent's Darkness Can Light the Child's Way

Brad E Sachs Ph.D. on November 20, 2017

Are you having difficulty understanding your young adult's struggles? Some thoughtful reflection may result in better understanding, both of your child and yourself.

Are you having difficulty understanding your young adult's struggles? Some thoughtful reflection may result in better understanding, both of your child and yourself.

Grief

How Does It Feel? Finding Freedom In and From Our Family

Brad E Sachs Ph.D. on October 3, 2017

Thoughts on grief and growth upon my father's passing

Thoughts on grief and growth upon my father's passing

Altruism

How You Might be Enabling Your Adult Child's Inertia

Brad E Sachs Ph.D. on September 12, 2017

Does your young adult seem unwilling to overcome obstacles? Perhaps your generosity is getting in the way.

Does your young adult seem unwilling to overcome obstacles? Perhaps your generosity is getting in the way.

Dreaming

What Parents Have Trouble Admitting About College Admissions

Brad E Sachs Ph.D. on December 5, 2016

Are you becoming overly preoccupied with your high school senior's college plans? Paying close attention to the underlying issues may help you and your child survive and thrive.

Are you becoming overly preoccupied with your high school senior's college plans? Paying close attention to the underlying issues may help you and your child survive and thrive.