Being a young adult is hard. If you have a young adult in your life like a grandchild or niece or nephew, you likely know the challenges they face firsthand. Today’s young adults face a mix of factors such as high cost of living and a competitive job market that weren’t present in previous generations.

As a result, about 46% of Canadians in their twenties live with a parent to help save money. Many young adults feel a sense of shame or failure for still living at home. Anxiety about the future can also have a negative impact on their mental health.

So what can be done? Think of it as a challenge both of you can tackle together. Offer to help them cultivate life skills such as budgeting or cooking. Perhaps negotiate a deal where you cover the cost of necessities such as groceries while they cover leisure expenses such as clothes or streaming services. Lend an ear when they need one.

The truth is, we all need help from time to time. Recognizing and communicating that the status quo isn’t a permanent arrangement will also benefit both parties in the end.

By Wendy Yurek