In this new, complicated family dynamic, Amelia, an 18-year-old daughter, has turned into the center of worry and concern between her parents. Her father can’t cope with his daughter’s unruly spirit. She’s been truanting from school, she no longer wants to live with her family and instead, she intends on moving in with her boyfriend. Since Amelia’s parents were awarded custody only days before Amelia’s 16th birthday, the nature of their relationship had been rapidly shifting. This balance has grown more tenuous by the day.
Amelia’s parents were granted guardianship when she was just 15 days shy of turning 16. This rough transition represented a huge turning point in her life. Since then, they’ve fought tooth and nail — with her school’s unwavering support — to defend her education and make sure she remains on course to graduate. Prior to their taking on guardianship of her, Amelia was failing classes and was not on track to graduate from high school. With her parents’ loving support, she managed to graduate and find some stability.
Although there’s been progress, as recently as last spring, Amelia’s behavior completely turned around after her parents received custody. Headstrong, she has claimed her freedom in ways that unsettle her father. He’s very deliberate in how he critiques her decisions. He is afraid that if he exercises his authority, this may cause her to withdraw and if so, distance themselves from one another. On top of this concern is the knowledge that they have only had Amelia for two years. They want to avoid turning off a valuable client with draconian enforcement that could scare off Ms.
As an 18-year-old, Amelia is a lot older now, so conversations can definitely get a bit more grown-up. Her parents think they can reason with her “woman to woman,” trying to create dialogue instead of discord. The challenge is obvious. They need to help keep her safe, but allow her the agency that comes with discovering who she is through her friendships and romantic relationships.
The familial aspect is further complicated by Amelia’s two younger sisters, who are in the process of trying to make their own educational paths. Amelia’s parents are committed to both leading by example and addressing Amelia’s behavior. The load of these familial responsibilities is burdensome on their shoulders.
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