Richard Guare, Colin Guare, and Peg Dawson

Paperback 288 pages

Whether you're a young adult who is stalled on the journey to independence—or a concerned parent still sharing the family nest—this compassionate book is for you. Providing a fresh perspective on the causes of failure to launch, the expert authors present a 10-step plan that helps grown kids and parents work together to achieve liftoff. Learn why brain-based executive skills such as planning, organization, and time management are so important to success, and what you can do to strengthen them. You get downloadable practical tools for figuring out what areas to target, building skills, identifying a desired career path, and making a customized action plan. Vivid stories of other families navigating the same challenges (including father and son Richard and Colin Guare) reveal what kind of parental support is productive—and when to let go.

“The Smart but Scattered books are among the most useful and informative resources for managing executive skills problems. This one is chock-full of sound advice for young adults—including those who have ADHD—and their parents.”

—Russell A. Barkley, PhD, ABPP, ABCN, author of Taking Charge of ADHD


“As a mother of three, I think this book should be in the home of all parents of older teens and young adults in today's world. It defines the stages of independence that should be taking place as our children grow up mentally and emotionally. It also clarifies the difference between being 'lazy' and not being ready—and helps young adults (and their parents!) build the future they want.”

—Andrea M., Rye, New Hampshire


“This book will help you and your young adult get to know yourselves (and each other) better—and develop a plan to get 'unstuck.' Using your strengths and past successes, you can set goals and get the support you need to achieve them. I highly recommend this book for any parents and grown kids who need some practical help getting where they want to go!”

—Patricia O. Quinn, MD, coauthor of Ready for Take-Off and On Your Own


“I often find parenting books unrealistic, but this one, written by a father and son, is helpful and practical. It gives a step-by-step plan for helping a stalled young adult move forward, and the questionnaires take some of the emotion out of sensitive conversations. Colin's story sounds so familiar to me as a parent—as does his dad's! This book shows how to help your young adult work toward goals that he or she chooses, while moving your relationship toward one of mutual respect between equals.”

—Patricia J., Rockaway Beach, Oregon


“A superb resource for parents who want to help young adult children develop the executive skills they need to reach their educational and career potential. No other book provides such a clear explanation of 'failure to launch' and converts scientific knowledge into practical problem-solving ideas. I can’t praise this book enough—it’s truly a gold mine of knowledge and tools for families.”

—Mary V. Solanto, PhD, Department of Pediatrics, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell


“This unique, useful resource will help young adults successfully launch from the comfortable nest of the family home to a nest of their own.”

—Lisa L. Weyandt, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Rhode Island