How to prevent "failure to launch"?

Today's question: 

"My son is 16 and UNMOTIVATED. He gets by at school, but that's it. He doesn't play sports or have a job or even his driver's license. I've given this kid every opportunity, and I'm resentful that he doesn't appreciate it. I'm sick of nagging and trying to motivate him because clearly, it's not working. I'm worried he's going to be one of those "failure to launch" kids who's thirty years old and just lays on the couch playing video games and smoking pot. This is unacceptable to me. How can I prevent a "failure to launch?" - April

Parent Educator Answer: "Failure to Launch" is a term used to describe a delay into adult independence and responsibility. Mom has a strong idea in her head of where a 16 year old should be (getting a driver's license and job), but since he isn't moving in that direction, she starts worrying about what this means for his future.

There are MANY reasons why we are seeing an increase in "failure to launch" scenarios in our culture.

It's common in Supermom culture to do too much for our kids. Optimizing children's opportunities and focusing on kids instead of parental happiness is unnatural, and puts stress on the family. When we use stress and fear to fuel our actions (we'd better sign up for music lessons, private coaching, tutoring or else we'll be left behind) our kids don't learn to motivate themselves out of joy, passion, or interest.

With downtime and boredom, kids learn to listen to their inner wisdom and what interests they want to pursue for their adult life. American kids have less down time than ever before. When every spare minute is filled with a text, tweet, or video game, kids aren't able to hear what their wisdom is telling them.

Our perfectionistic parenting culture puts too much emphasis on 'doing everything right' and meeting societal expectations. It's really hard for a kid to transition into a new version of themselves when they are afraid of making mistakes or failing. Some kids think the safest way to avoid failure is to not try. Avoiding new things is a common way of coping with the anxiety and fear that naturally bubble up as kids grow into the challenges of adulthood.

Our culture creates the perfect recipe for "failure to launch". While podcasts like this are trying to change the perfectionistic, work hard and blame the mom culture, what can this mom do to help her (possibly) fearful, avoidant son?

Right now, nothing. Because her emotions are rooted in fear, everything she says or does will add to his fear, increasing his tendency toward avoidance.

Life Coach Answer: I know it's easy to look at your son's current behavior and "futurize" and "catastrophize" imagining that he will never change. When you do that, you put your brain into the fight or flight response believing there is an emergency to be addressed right NOW. This angry, fearful energy makes you nag, complain, cajole, and TRY to get him to do what YOU want. He picks up on your fear, making him increase his desire to avoid the world.

Before you can take productive action, you need to release the anger and fear. Why? Because emotions are contagious. When you are calm and confident, he will pick up on that. In order to face the many challenges that lie ahead of him, he needs to have confidence in his ability to achieve AND to fail.

First, recognize that in this moment, all is well. There are no immediate threats to your safety or to his. Breathe and notice that all the drama is happening inside your own head. You are using your imagination to create a dreary future scenario. You could just as easily envision ten other futures for him instead of the one you currently are.

Most moms dread this "failure to launch" scenario because of what they would say to themselves and to their sons if this situation came about. "I failed. He's a failure." So let's make a commitment right here and now that, no matter what, you will focus on love. "I loved him with all my heart." "He is still 100% lovable, no matter what." "Even if he never lives up to his potential, I will love him." "My job is just to love, the rest is up to him."

Now that we've got you out of fear, you can actually say and do things that might help.

Encourage small steps, rather than criticize. Find something to focus on that is a sign of growth or forward momentum, no matter how small. "You found the DMV website today, YEAH!" "You were nervous to ask your friend about his job but you did it anyway, that's great!" Praising or rewarding him every time he faces his fear is how we undo perfectionism. Then, he can learn to associate the negative feeling of fear, with a positive result.

Meanwhile, you can hold a vision of him being brave and bold, until he can hold it for himself. Picture him taking chances, being brave, and feeling scared but doing it anyway.

Moms can help prevent "failure to launch" by remembering that the number one way kids learn, is by imitation.

I was introducing a group of girl scouts to jumping rope and how to run into it while it's moving and then start jumping. One at a time, each girl positioned themselves to run in; studying the rhythm of the rope, trying to decide the optimal time to go for it. Their facial expressions showed fear, determination, interest, hesitation, and courage. One girl stood at the ready, nervous but determined, waiting for courage to kick in. Her mom felt uncomfortable seeing her daughter so hesitant, so she ran into the moving jump rope and said: "Look, it's easy, just do it like this."

Immediately, this girl's face crumbled. She folded her arms, walked off, sat against the wall, defeated, and would not try again.

This was such a lesson for me. That sometimes, our competence can actually drain the confidence right out of our kids.

If we want our kids to do new and scary things, what helps them isn't telling them about our successes, but about our failures.  Instead of telling them about how you worked two jobs and got your license at 16, tell them about the D you got in Geometry and had to go to summer school for. Share that embarrassing story about asking that guy to prom who never actually answered you. Conjuring up your past mistakes and sharing them, might be just the thing your son needs to challenge himself.

Better yet, let him see you trying something new. Have him teach you how to use SnapChat. Let him laugh at your ineptitude at his favorite video game. Or, use this opportunity to pursue something you have dreamt of doing but haven't had the chance.

Thinking about starting a side-hustle? Now is a great time. Have you been wanting to cut out sugar, carbs, or meat? Why not try it now? Sign up for that half marathon. Start that club you've been wanting to start. Budget. Meditate. Make sure it's something personally challenging to you so he can watch you struggle and stumble. This is THE best way you can help your son. It takes your attention off of him and gives you compassion, remembering that change isn't as easy as it seems.

Supermom kryptonite: Futurizing & Catastrophizng

Futurizing doesn't sound like a bad idea, "Isn't it good to be thinking about and preparing for the future?"  Yes, we like to know what to expect, but many people only envision the worst case scenario (catastrophizing). Our brains can't tell the difference between a real life catastrophic situation, and the imaginary one we create in our mind. We react as though the terrible thing we're imagining is actually going to happen.

Try this, keep the worst case scenario in mind, but, just for fun, imagine the best possible scenario in the same detail as you did for your worst case. The vision in your head will be wrong either way, but it is much more enjoyable to imagine everything going perfectly. Now try imagining the funniest case scenario. Then, the weirdest. Then, the most boring. Choose to imagine the one that feels the best to you.

It's easier to have a life coach help you separate your current, present reality, from your catastrophic future but this will get you started. Your imagination is something you control, why not put it to good use?

Supermom power boost: Compassion.

When we recognize that our frustration is really about us and our fears, we can let it go and make room for compassion. Compassion is a wonderful emotion but we can't access it when we are trying not to feel embarrassed or think that we have failed as a mom. Accept that your child will NEVER live up to his potential but you get to decide how you want to feel about him while he is struggling, learning, growing, failing and succeeding. Love and compassion are always great options that feel good. Embarrassment and shame will not give you the result you want, which is to feel like a good mom.

Quote of the Day: “We change, we grow up, we fuck up, we love, we hurt, we’re teenagers. We’re still learning.” – By Unknown Author

"When your children are teenagers, it's important to have a dog, so that someone in the house is happy to see you." Nora Ephron

Go to www.lifecoachingforparents.com/work-with-me if you want help with your teen.