"Dealing with an Embarrassing Adult Child Who Lost Their Job"

A mother is embarrassed by her 25-year-old son who lacks motivation and moved back home after being fired from a job he was overqualified for. The mother is concerned about what her friends will think and feels his lack of ambition reflects on her parenting. However, the columnist suggests that the issue may be deeper and recommends seeking therapy to address unhealthy family dynamics. The mother should offer sympathy and normalizing to her son and consider having him evaluated for depression or anxiety. The columnist also advises the mother to let her friends know that her son is looking for work and to activate her network.