For a large family, or a blended family of several stepchildren, the launch may stretch over a decade or even longer. Even with parents more variably aged these days, we almost always expect that parents are middle-aged when they launch their offspring. The permission is likely to be both conscious and unconscious. Without it, or with parents giving mixed messages , the young adult may experience indecision and even failure. Like most transitions , this one is likely to be marked by special events or rituals that announce that a change is taking place.
Parents can use rituals to give permission to their children to grow up.
For example, in financial matters, parents can encourage young adults to open a bank account without the parent's signature on it, or convert an existing custodial account to an individual account. By encouraging independent banking, the parent effectively gives permission for the young adult to make decisions and take actions without consulting anyone else. Rituals that mark a transition have a cumulative effect. They add up to change over time , although families sometimes do not recognize the importance of each ritual until they look back in retrospect. This will place this page's title in your bookmark list.