Study Shows Parents Enable Adult Children
Expert explains how parents can correct this issue before it’s too late

KNOXVILLE, TN. (May 23, 2012) – Many parents are enabling their adult children and destroying their chances for success. A recent study shows that over 60% of today’s young adults receive financial help from their parents. Consequently, many parents have crippled their adult children by solving their problems and shielding their own difficult decisions. As millions of Americans battle economic hardship, Dr. Daryl Green, noted lecturer, shares how parents can re-engage their children’s sense of independence.

In this economic crisis, many adult children have returned in large numbers to stay with their parents. According to new research study by Patrick Wightman at the University of Michigan which was cited by USA Today, more than 62% of young adults get financial help from their parents at an average of $12,185. Additionally, over 22% of parents assist their adult children in various ways, including paying their bills or rent. Researcher Larry Nelson at Brigham Young University found that when parents cover everything that their adult children tend to work less while increasing their risky behavior.

Dr. Green has done extensive research on cultural issues impacting today and future leaders. His last book, Job Strategies for the 21st Century, has been rated number one on Amazon.com. Dr. Green notes, “Giving an individual financial assistance without any accountability goes beyond common sense. Yet, we parents will do this same action with our own children when we know the long-term consequences.” Dr. Green can recite a number of situations where these enabling actions of parents have damaged their children. Some people argue that parents who finance their adult children with no limitations has fueled this “Entitlement Generation.” Dr. Green wrote his new book, Don’t Be An Old Fool: Gratitude and Commonsense, as a sanity check for today’s society. This month marks the 2nd edition of this book being published.

Some adult children only need temporary help while others feel they are entitled to their parents’ financial support forever. Dr. Green argues for parents making the hard decision of setting financial limits on their adult children. This process will allow their adult children to deal with their own financial situations, even if it means hitting the proverbial ‘rock bottom’. Dr. Green continues that today’s parents are fostering adults who cannot survive under the future economic crisis. He termed them ‘Helicopter Parents’. Dr Green explains, “Helicopter Parents micromanage their children’s affairs from infancy to adulthood. Yet no parent wants to be called a ‘Helicopter Parent.’ It doesn’t matter the title. However, the results are adult kids who can’t cope under pressure. It is a no-brainer that these adults will eventually expect their parents to maintain this financial help infinitely.” Dr. Green suggests that parents set their expectations upfront with their adult children to ease miscommunications.

Don’t Be An Old Fool is available online at Amazon.com and other book retailers. You can also view the book trailer on Youtube.com at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foq6IuOOT1Y. For more information about the book or the author, please contact Donna Gilliard at 865-216-9209 or visit him at www.darylgreen.org. Dr. Green is available for media interviews.

About the Author
Dr. Daryl Green is a management strategist and nationally-recognized author who has been noted and quoted in major media outlets, including USA Today, Associated Press, Ebony, and BET. He is an adjunct professor at Lincoln Memorial University, and a former faculty member at Knoxville College. Green has spent more than 20 years assisting organizations and individuals with making good decisions.