The Challenge of Being Almost Independent

Some young people are able to do a great deal on their own. They can take public transit and more or less know their way around. They may have a job and get paid, albeit poorly. They are almost independent.

Such young people are likely to have some friends that they have met on their own. But they may not be able to judge some situations and people. Friends also may not have good judgment. And they may not realize that they need help in some situations. Their families worry most about their vulnerability to exploitation and the possibility of their making unsafe choices. These young people can benefit from having a support circle or network. They will likely be more able to guide this circle and to help it to help them.

Having a boyfriend or a girlfriend or even marriage may be on the minds of this group. We offer some suggestions in the Dating and Safety pages of this section and the Young Adults section.

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Common Fears

“As most of my daughter’s few friends are within the context of our wider community of friends we are satisfied with the quality of person they are. Outside of that circle, in the wider community, not so. My daughter is quite vulnerable, is impulsive, wants fiercely to be independent and makes poor decisions. There have been ‘incidents.’ So we don’t encourage a lot of friendship-making on her own. Too risky!”

Lock, BC

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