The Winner Takes It All
Parental Alienation: When one parent, often through manipulative behavior, intentionally turns their children against the other parent. It is a distortion of the intentions, attitudes, and behaviors of the alienated parent in an effort to control, punish, or demean the other parent. It is a form of brainwashing.- Ann Silvers, MA
The Reality of Radical Acceptance
There is a term called Radical Acceptance. It is the ability to accept situations that are outside of your control, not resisting what one cannot or chooses not to change. You don’t have to agree, you do have to accept because fighting “WHAT IS” is exhausting and it gets you nowhere.
I hear other parents whose children have left say things like; “this is not fair”,” It shouldn’t be this way”, “we didn’t deserve this”…. Like I said, accepting doesn’t mean agreeing. It sounds like, “I’m in this shitty situation, I don’t think that it’s okay, but IT IS WHAT IT IS, and I can’t change that it happened”. It’s painful and it takes practice, but it’s the only road towards healing. If you ever hope to reconcile one day with you child, you need to look inward and accept what it and begin healing yourself. That way when the time comes, if your child and you do reconnect, you have both (hopefully) don’t the work necessary for a healthy relationship.
Baby Steps
The early days of reconciliation are all about baby steps, not the what-if’s of the future.
Invisible Thread
We’re all different, leading different lives, yet we share this common invisible thread. I think there’s comfort knowing someone understands your feelings and you are not alone anymore.
The Outsiders
Every parent experiencing estrangement, should take the time to watch “Dancing For The Devil” on Netflix about the 7M TikTok Cult. How do outside influences affect our relationships with out adult children? Sometimes it’s Parental Alienation, or a cult or their significant other. The end result is the same. Is love enough to bring them home?
This Side Of the Glass
Music is a powerful medium for emotional healing. The song “The Glass” by the Foo Fighters and performed with H.E.R hit me so hard the first time I listened to it. The lyrics really resonate with anyone who has experienced estrangement, no matter which side of the glass you’re on. Link to listen is included.
Love or Enmeshment
“There is no me without you. There is no life in me… without you. I breathe for you. I live for you.” Kevin Hart to his children. Love or enmeshment?
Storm Damage
Last night an F-3 tornado tore through your area & neighborhood. You’re gone, I get it, but I am still your Mom and you have to know I was a wreck, imagining the worst after seeing the pictures on the news. I tried to reach out to you - because surely, with something this extreme, you would at the very least want me to know you guys are okay… Silence.