Insideout, from my perspective, you're being a bit tough on mom. Yes, I can understand how annoying parents can be. My 84-year-old mother can still push my buttons. However, I, too, would be wondering about my son who was still living at home two years after graduating from college. Yes, the very point is that he is an adult.

Now, that said, Sesame, adults do have to make decisions, and we rarely know all the implications of them. For example, marrying someone.....taking a job.....We just have to decide based on what we can learn at the time. If your mom sees that you are taking action, then maybe she will back off.

Off hand, I do know that historically it's very tough to get into grad school in clinical psychology--at least into Ph.D. programs. I would encourage you, though, to follow through on the connections you have, and try to keep researching, but not drag your feet too long. Even though you're an adult, there's nothing immature about keeping your mom in the loop of what you're doing to head into a career you believe you can feel comfortable with.

And try to be helpful at home, if you haven't been, especially if you are being given free room and board. For good or bad, I admit that it is hard for us parents to ever completely see our children as grown-ups--and we always want to jump in when we see them struggling.

Well, you're heard the prospective of an "old lady mom." It might but be what you wanted to hear, but....By the way, I have a Ph.D. in social psychology and was a college professor for many years. I will take your perspective to heart, Sesame, as I deal with my two young adults, who will be graduating from college in the next several years.....