Consider the parents caring for adult children not in work or education

‘We’ve watched children who were once thriving gradually withdraw from education, relationships and the outside world.’ Photograph: MBI/Alamy

Reading the comments below Annalisa Barbieri’s latest advice column online (I wish my son wanted to spend more time with me, 28 June), I was struck by how many people equated successful parenting with raising independent adult children.

But life isn’t always that straightforward. There is a largely invisible generation of midlife parents still caring for adult children who remain Neets – not in employment, education or training. Many are living with neurodivergence, severe mental illness, post-Covid syndrome or chronic ill health.