Pam Broker, the founder, owner, and director of Milestones for Young Adults in Idaho, which is a young adult program, was interviewed by Lon Woodbury and Liz McGhee on Parent Choices for Struggling Adolescents on L.A. Talk Radio. She discussed what young adults need to do to grow up and become fully independent adults. The host of the show, Lon Woodbury, is the founder of Woodbury Reports, and he has helped families and struggling teens since 1984. His co-host, Elizabeth McGhee, is the Director of Admissions and Reference Relations at Sandhill Youngster Development Facility. Liz has well over 19 years of consulting experience. The show for struggling teens and their parents is sponsored by Father Flanagan's Boys Town in Nebraska.

Pamela Broker

As the the owner and director of Milestones for Young Adults--which is a young adult transition program- Pamela Broker has a wealth of experience. She has worked with adolescents, adults and their families for many years, working at 6 different programs in the Northwest as an admissions director prior to founding Milestones.

Numerous Challenges on the Young Adult's Path to Independence

The young adult's path to self-reliance in North America is rife with troubles. The classic path to maturity--which is working, getting married, raising children, and contributing to culture-- is increasingly challenging for today's youths. There are numerous reasons for this dilemma. One is society's impact. It takes longer to get a great education and earn professional credentials. Additionally, most entry level work scarcely pays for the cost of food and shelter and life's necessities. Two is the impact of telecommunication devices. It's possible for a kid to have their needs met vicariously through the Web. Three are over-functioning moms and dads, who are doing everything for their kids. Four are youngster having emotional issues like learning disorders,debilitating physical conditions or addictions and dependencies. However, Pamela also thought that a big part of the problem could just be the youngster's hesitation to leave home. "They are comfortable where they are," she pointed out. "Why would they try to do something completely different? They get money by asking for it, a roof over their head, a cozy bed, and delicious meals.".

Pamela offered several suggestions for parents: give children bottom line directives, give them the ball to play the game of life, and allow them to learn from their mistakes if they run out of money. She also suggested that parents make it clear to their children that their child's chaos is not the parent's chaos. Additionally, toward the close of the show, she outlined out how parents can get external help from their local community, from life coaches, and from organizations dedicated to helping young adults mature.

Wrapping it Up

The interview covered problems like why young adults are "failing to launch." It discussed the adverse effect of helicopter parents, the negative impact of addiction to modern technology, and the creeping alienation experienced in modern society. Finally, the interview also discussed how kids's brains do not develop until they are twenty-five years of ages, how parenting has altered over the decades, and how moms and dads need to make their children take responsibility for their very own lives.