Parents struggle with financially dependent adult sons
DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a 60-year-old mother of two adult sons, ages 38 and 32. Both of them are completely dependent on my husband and me for financial support. My husband and I have always been relatively well-off, and we never hesitated to provide them with everything they needed and wanted as they grew up. I felt it was a way to show our love and support, but now I fear we may have enabled them to the point that it’s affecting their ability to stand on their own two feet. Currently, both sons are unemployed, and they seem to rely on us for nearly all their expenses, from rent to bills — even spending money. This dependency has put a strain on our relationship with them and with each other, as my husband and I have different opinions on how to address the situation.