"They'll figure it out" isn't a plan. This is the plan. Your kid is about to leave home for a dorm, a first apartment, or a first job - and somewhere underneath the pride and excitement is a quieter worry: do they actually know how to do this? Not the things school taught them, but the things nobody formally teaches at all - reading a lease, understanding a credit score, handling a roommate conflict, or knowing when a symptom means urgent care. Ready to Launch is the practical, reassuring guide that helps you close those gaps before launch day, without turning the next few months into an overwhelming crash course. This isn't a guilt trip about what you haven't done yet. It's a clear, doable plan for the conversations, paperwork, and skills that actually matter - plus honest guidance on staying connected without hovering once they're gone. What's inside: - The conversations to have before they leave (money, health, safety, expectations) - Teaching real money skills at home before their first paycheck arrives - The paperwork checklist: IDs, insurance, HIPAA authorization, power of attorney - Cooking, laundry, and basic household skills they actually need - What to help set up for housing, leases, and roommates - Car basics, insurance, and safety for getting around on their own - What to realistically expect in the first 90 days - and how to support from afar - Recognizing homesickness vs. something more serious - How to coach (not rescue) them through common crises - Paying for college or training without financial panic - Letting go: redefining your own role as they become an adult - Keeping the family connected once daily life no longer overlaps
