There are many family situations that go like this: one family member consistently misbehaves. They are irresponsible with the bit of money they have. They alienate people by taking advantage of their kindness, and yet they never stop taking advantage of others because one person is always willing to enable them. This could be an adult son who has lived at home for years without a job, living off his aging parents’ meager savings. This could also be an aging parent who expects their adult children to clean up all the financial mistakes they’re constantly making, while refusing to change. We’re wired to believe that misbehaving is for kids, but adults misbehave just as much, if not more, than kids. As adults, we have to choose whether to put up with other people’s misbehavior or to stop enabling them. Enablers often want what’s best for their family, but they are almost always doing more harm than good.