Helping an adult child through a rough patch can be an act of love, but repeated financial rescue can quietly undermine a woman’s own security. Recent AARP research found that three-fourths of parents surveyed financially support at least one adult child, with parents providing thousands annually on average. Setting financial boundaries with adult children does not mean refusing to help; it means deciding what you can reasonably afford before emotions make the decision for you. Clear expectations can protect retirement savings, reduce resentment, and encourage adult children to become more financially independent.
