by
Aaron Auerbach, Ph.D.
Are parents eternally committed to love their children, no matter
what they do? Are they committed to pay for education throughout
the child's life? Should they pay for their children's follies in
choosing a mate, choosing the wrong job or career, and bear responsibilities
for the vagaries of the market-place?
When one's children are consistently in debt, choosing the wrong
mate, or without gainful employment, the choices that must be made
concerning if and how to help are complex. When does the pattern
of always giving end?
The rules of the game change when parenting adult children. Neverending
parenting now means providing conditional love, rather than the
unconditional love given to a child. There is a need for boundaries
and obligations appropriate for the adult child.
Designed to help parents distinguish between giving as a neverending
parent and giving as a neverending sacrifice, the psychology presented
in the book and the discussions deal with issues of belief, faith,
and skepticism, as well as with more pragmatic matters.
Aaron Auerbach received his
master's degree in human development at Harvard University followed
by a Ph.D. in developmental psychology at Purdue University. He
launched a professional career teaching various courses in psychology
at Iowa State University, York University, the Hebrew University
of Jerusalem, the University of Chicago, Wilfred Laurier University,
and Purdue University.
His clinical career began as a military psychologist in the United
States Army for two years, and later he served as a psychologist
in the Israel Defense Forces reserves for sixteen years. He has
served as director of psychological services for children in hospitals,
clinics, and schools in Israel and the United States. In private
practice continuously since 1971, he specializes in complex family
interactions.
|
