Adult children living with their parents is occurring at unprecedented rates. In some cases the adult children are just late in leaving the nest while others return home after a loss of job or after a divorce. Regardless of the reason, living with adult children can potentially lead to conflict. Be proactive and formulate a plan before conflict develops, or at least before it gets worse.

Many cultures routinely practice multi-generational living. They learn from an early age how to divide responsibilities, respect privacy, and transition from one role to another. In the United States, that has not been the experience for most of us. Therefore, it’s difficult for many of us to adapt to this new reality.

The potential problems are many when an adult child lives at home. Often, views on morality and appropriate or acceptable behavior vary between generations. Parents may expect young adults returning home to observe the same rules as before going off to college. The adult child my try to assert his/her adulthood by rejecting any notion of rules or curfews. Another minefield is household responsibilities, both physical and financial. The parents may assume that the adult child will pitch in out of gratitude and the adult child may assume the parents would say something if they want more help. Either way, it is easy to recognize that misunderstandings can escalate into frustration and conflict very quickly.

Most experts recommend creating a thorough agreement when an adult child returns home or when a child at home becomes an adult. Talking through the issues and writing out an agreement helps ward off misunderstandings and future conflict.

Many families could benefit from professional help in this process, especially if a conflict has already developed or has a high potential to do so. A family mediator who is trained to work with high conflict families can assist you. A mediator facilitates communication between the parties and assists the parties in developing their own, unique agreement.

If you would like to discuss how a family mediator could assist your family, please contact me for a no-obligation, no-cost consultation.

Kimberly Barahona

Mediator and Parent Coordinator

kbarahona@bcmediation.net

832-439-3581

After divorce, many parents have difficulty working together as co-parents. No surprise there! It often takes years for the psychological wounds from the divorce to heal. In the meantime, children can suffer long-term trauma when parents have difficulty putting their own issues aside.

Parent Coordination is a program that helps co-parents work together for the sake of the children. Parent Coordination sessions are led by a specially trained professional. Through a series of several sessions, generally 6-8, the co-parents practice effective communication skills, explore best practice parenting techniques, and develop a personalized parenting plan that works for them.

Parent Coordination programs are open to all co-parents who feel they could benefit from this extra level of support. In extreme cases, parent coordination may even be court-ordered. If you and your co-parent are having a difficult time, then you can assume your children are too. Don’t wait - call for a no-obligation, no-cost consultation today.

Kimberly Barahona,

Mediator and Parent Coordinator

kbarahona@bcmediation.net

832-439-3581

Conflict is a part of life, but it doesn’t have to be a way of life.  This is true in general and it’s true in the workplace. Having procedures in place to minimize and resolve conflict before it affects productivity is essential for successful organizations.

First and foremost, it’s important to recognize that conflict is not inherently bad.  In fact, the discussions that develop from conflicting ideas are often the most productive. Teams that respect and appreciate diversity will harness creative differences and be more productive than those that don’t.  

When conflict does become a workplace issue, either between management and staff or staff to staff, mediation facilitated by a third party neutral can often resolve the issue and restore the relationship as well.  Through the process of mediation, participants learn valuable techniques to resolve future issues independently.

Contact Barahona Consulting and Mediation to explore how we can assist you in this area.  Your first consultation is free of charge.