Losing a Relationship with Your Child​

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First, Breathe and Take Care of Yourself

For some parents and families, finding out that their adult child has decided to

estrange themselves can feel shocking. You may be feeling a lot of emotions,

including anger, confusion, depression, guilt, and sadness.

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In an 2020 article published by the AARP, author Sheri McGregor was quoted from

her book, "Done with the Crying: Help and Healing for Mothers of Estranged Adult

Children":

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"I never imagined that my own child would reject me. Yet, one of my five children cut ties with me and his entire family. It's emotionally devastating and something no loving parent expects or is prepared for."

 

Losing a relationship with your child can feel as though your world is turned

upside down. Suddenly everything you thought you knew about yourself, 

your family, your relationship with this person - has become nothing short of 

chaotic and unsettled. Where do you go from here? What are you supposed to

do now? Why would they make this decision? How come they haven't spoken with you about whatever it is they are going through?

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Relate.org, the UK's largest provider of relationship support, offers three immediate things you can do to help you cope with this situation:

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1. Give it time

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You may be tempted to send an angry letter, ask a family member to follow up with them or  find other ways to get in contact. However, it may be best to simply leave your child alone for now. Your child is likely feeling a wide range of difficult and complex emotions that you may or may not be aware of; provoking them to speak to you could only make things worse as they need time to collect their thoughts and figure out what it is they need.

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2. Acknowledge your pain

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This is hard to do sometimes. You may be feeling frustrated, upset and broken - acknowledge this. Say it out-loud to yourself. It's better for you to let out those feelings in healthy ways than to keep them inside. Write a letter and throw it away if you need to. Speak with a mental health professional. Talk about what you're going through with someone who will listen and understand without placing blame on you or convincing you to do anything you might later regret. Get rest and allow yourself time to grieve. This is very important as it's a natural human response to feel the way you're feeling right now.

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3. Talk to Someone

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Your mental health is what matters most right now. Make sure that you are giving yourself some compassion during this time and seeking out healthy outlets for your stress. Read books that give you a greater perspective on life. As we mentioned before, seek out a mental health professional if you're able. This situations are often complex and can leave major heart wounds if not managed and dealt with appropriately.

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