Dr Phil: Behave Your Way To Success + Move Out of Your Parents’ Garage

Dr Phil: Our Son Was Making Millions But Is Now Living In Our Garage

Over the past decade, a boomerang trend has emerged in which college graduates return to their parents’ homes while they begin their careers. But Ryan might be taking that trend to the extreme. He is a 37-year-old who once made millions, but now he has moved back in with his parents, Mike and Vicki, and he lives in their garage. Find out why he thinks that this is all his parents’ fault. Plus, Dr Phil explained the difference between winners and losers.

Ryan used to run a real estate company, but that ended a few years ago, and since then, they have been supporting him. Mike even came out of retirement to pay the bills, since Ryan is not working. Three months prior to this episode, Ryan and his 24-year-old girlfriend, Rachel, moved into Mike and Vicki’s garage, where the parents say their son sleeps all day and fights with them.

Dr Phil: Would You Live in Mom & Dad’s Garage?

Vicki said she has asked her son to move out a number of times, and she is tired of the constant stress he is creating in their lives. Ryan claimed that he does not want to be living in a garage, but that his parents owe him because they are the reason his business failed. He said that things started going wrong in 2007 when his mother started doing the company’s bookkeeping and questioning his business decisions.

Dr Phil questioned that line of thinking, running down Ryan’s extravagant purchases, including cars and a home. Dr Phil also said that if it was his company, “the buck stops with you.” Ryan conceded that it was not all his mother’s fault. But he said it put him at a disadvantage when Vicki took control of the purse strings. Apparently, Vicki previously told Dr Phil that he was spending the company’s money on personal expenses.

Dr Phil: Why Does Ryan Yell At His Parents?

Dr Phil also questioned why Mike and Vicki allow Ryan to yell at them in their own home, when they are doing him a favor and supporting him. “It doesn’t make sense at all,” Mike said. “I feel like I’m stuck in the situation.” Mike was worried that his son would be on the street if they stopped supporting him.

Then Dr Phil played some highlights of videos from their home, in which Ryan verbally attacks both of his parents. Dr Phil could not understand why Ryan did not just want to move out and be on his own. Then Rachel joined the conversation, indicating that she does not enjoy living in a garage, but that the arrangement is temporary.

Dr Phil: Ryan’s Girlfriend Vs Mom

Why doesn’t Rachel get along with Ryan’s mom, Vicki? Rachel admitted that they have argued and even gotten physical. Rachel recalled an incident where she was making soup and Vicki forced her to return to the garage. Vicki told Dr Phil that Rachel was putting on an act and pretending to be innocent, but it’s a different story when they are at home. The women could not agree on how the soup incident played out.

Ryan accused his parents of violating their agreement, and said if they would give him and Rachel some space, they would be able to get out of the garage and move on. Ryan told Dr Phil he is currently on unemployment for the first time in his life, and he does not know how to turn the page.

Dr Phil: Is Ryan’s Story Sympathetic Or Manipulative?

“I’ve always been a worker. I’ve always done what I had to do to make ends meet,” Ryan said. This portion of his comments seemed genuinely true, even if you remove it from the context of his potential motivations in the family disagreement. He added that it was difficult to be consistently hurt by his parents, who are also helping him during this difficult time.

Dr Phil was firm with Mike and Vicki, telling them that they have to take control of the situation and set their own boundaries when it comes to their living situation and retirement. This advice elicited thunderous applause from the audience. “You have to do what it is you need to do,” Dr Phil said. “There are no victims, only volunteers.” If the couple continued to perpetuate this broken scenario, that would be their responsibility.

Dr Phil Was Homeless At Age 15

Dr Phil said he was homeless at age 15 and moved out the next year. “I got through it just fine,” he said, noting that he would not recommend it and would not wish it on his own sons. However, he did raise them to expect that they were responsible for themselves and expected to move out at age 18.

He encouraged the couple to seize and enjoy their retirement years. While it may be noble to help out family, Dr Phil suspected that they were acting to make themselves feel better more than anything else, because Ryan has had plenty of time to get his act together and the current environment is not getting results. It is only enabling Ryan.

Dr Phil: Behave Your Way To Success

“You behave your way to success. The difference between winners and losers is winners do things losers don’t want to do,” Dr Phil said. “If you don’t have a job, your job is looking for a job.” His motivational speech brought the family to tears and the audience to cheers.

It can be hard to set boundaries when it comes to family, especially during times of difficulty. But hopefully this family can take Dr Phil’s advice and move forward into a new situation that is more fulfilling for everyone. Have you ever had to draw a line like this? Share your thoughts on this topic with the hashtag #CuttingBait.