Estrangement

I recently attended a holiday concert that featured a brass instrument group and two choirs – one of middle school and one of high school age students. One of the songs the combined choirs sang brought me to tears. I attended the concert with my partner and my…

Family estrangement for women in their 60s is more common than you think. About 70 million people in the United States report experiencing estrangement from one or more family members. For some, estrangement is a choice due to self-preservation…

As we embrace the holiday season, filled with its customary warmth and family festivities, it’s essential to recognize that this time can present unique challenges for parents and adult children navigating estrangement. If you are in this situation…

Mothering is filled with both blessings and pain. Not too long ago, one of my children was estranged from me. It was not how I envisioned a relationship with an adult child. At the time, I wasn’t completely sure where she was living and had no reliable way to contact her…

Estrangement – what an ugly, harsh-sounding word. Jarring to the ears, in fact. The dictionary definition of estrangement is “to turn away in feeling or affection, make unfriendly or hostile, alienate the affections of.” Estrangements are…

Sibling conflict isn’t uncommon. In fact, most siblings go through many ups and downs over the years. By the time you’ve reached your 60s you’d hope the waters would have smoothed and your connection strengthened. Unfortunately, that’s not…

No parent wants to have a strenuous relationship with their child. Ideally, families strive for healthy connections, maintaining communication and closeness as children grow into adults and begin their own path in life. However, this is not always a reality…

Recently, I experienced a situation that illuminated a particularly poignant form of loss: being ghosted. This experience, though not unique, can be especially jarring when you’re in your 60s and beyond. It highlights how important it is to address and process…

As the Generation X and the Baby Boomer generation age, they face unique challenges that distinguish their experiences from those of younger generations. These multifaceted challenges impact their financial stability, physical health…

There’s something comforting about my slow transition into a couch potato with my water bottle and a pack of baked chips in hand. It’s my way of winding down after a day of engaging with lovely humans. I appreciate psychological stories…