Shared stories of estrangement from adult children help us discover important truths and heal.
Why Your Story of Estrangement is Important
Communicating helps.
Stories are powerful. They engage and inspire. By sharing our stories of estrangement from our adult child or children, we can help one another. We are not alone. Through shared stories, we find ways to feel better, cope, and move toward healing.
Stories connect people, foster empathy, and understanding.
Storytelling is part of the fabric of human history. In ancient times – – and today – – stories help us empathize with and understand others as well as help us define ourselves. A recent Princeton University study demonstrated than when people understand a story, their neurological activity synchronizes with that of the storyteller. When you tell your story about something as significant as how you came to terms with your adult child’s estrangement, how you’ve coped in a variety of related situations, or how you worked toward an eventual reconciliation or healing despite the estrangement, your experience can benefit parents who are suffering.
How to share your stories of estrangement, and help other parents with adult children who are estranged.
Most of us are already good storytellers. We share bits of our lives with one another every day. Please use the contact form below to help other parents by sharing your story. Note: For shared stories, as a standard for this website all names will be assigned a pseudonym. If you are a professional writer and want a byline or links, contact me for an individual evaluation. Options to share your story:
1. Send a short note that tells what you would like to share, and how you believe your story might help others. You may be contacted via email, and your story may be written up by a professional writer. Please read #2 below for more on story topics and ideas.
2. Write your own story. Submit an approximately 600- to 800-word personal story that provides background information about your experience with an estranged adult child such as how the estrangement occurred, what precipitated the break, and how long the break has lasted. Remember to include your emotions: how you felt, how you feel now, and/or how your feelings changed over time. Also please include some details such as whether or not your adult child is estranged from other family members too, etc. Please choose a focus, a focal point of sorts that draws your sharing to a close: how you came to terms with the break, how you handle it now, how you reconciled, an important lesson you may have learned – – something you believe will help other parents to cope in their situation, persevere in hope, or in some way find peace. (Please also keep a copy of your story for your files.)
Note: I reserve the right to edit stories for clarity and content.
Share your story is temporarily disabled. Check back for an updated form.
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I’m so happy I found this site because my daughter has not talked to me since 2015. Everyday is a nightmare because I love & miss her so much!! I have tried just about everything to get in touch with her but to no avail. She just had a baby girl on October 15th & so of course I am completely heartbroken because I know I will never get to see or even meet my granddaughter. I think I am driving myself insane!! It hurts so bad!! My other daughter does not want to get in the middle of it & I don’t blame her. I know I need to seek professional help & I am going to but there’s nothing they can say to ease the pain. I just cannot believe I am in this situation. I have been suicidal over it but I could never do that to my other daughter. I will get professional help because I know my friends and family are tired of seeing me suffer. Thank you for this site I got to read others stories & I felt relieved in a way that I’m not the only one going through something so awful as this.
hola, mi hijo comenzó a distanciarse a los 23 años , el fue diagnosticado como “ emotional handycap” en USA donde nació y creció. siempre fue especial con mucha incapacidad para mantenerse quieto o concentrado, pero era tremendamente cariñoso, respetuoso y muy buen hijo , deje que usara el computador para juegos que me parecía algo excesivo pero nunca pensé que podría Dañar algo en su cerebro como la capacidad de amar , el se volvió mentiroso , manipulador , desapegado y de forma natural comenzó a vernos a su padre y a mi como cosas , viendo de que forma le podíamos servir
no tiene amor ni por su padre ni hermano ni por mi , espere 3 años y hace 2 días toque su puerta, llamo a la policía diciéndoles que yo estaba invadiendo su espacio , los policías llegaron y le dijeron que no debía llamar tratándose de una visita normal sin violencia , el insistió que era violento que yo lo visitara sin aviso. me da pena que no veo como recuperarlo o recupere la relación con su hermano o su padre , el perdió el amor natural y estuve un tiempo hace 4 años atrás dejándome utilizar económicamente por el , reconozco que al ver que no tenía amor por su hermano ni su padre yo misma provoqué el corte, para reaccionara , no a ocurrido , esta peor y el dolor es enorme, era un niño sensible , gracioso, muy inteligente , siempre distraído con dificultad para concentrarse se volvió egocentrico, hiriente , manipulador y no tiene amor por nadie ni por nada , se que hay algo en su cerebro que se disparó , no se que hacer , se que el no quiere nada pero pienso que mi deber como madre es no dejarlo que se pierda sin familia . Por otro lado si lo busco me ignora o es capaz de llamar a la policía y si no lo busco se que no lo volveré a recuperar , su hermano y su papá se dieron por vencidos, se que no hay magia para este dolor Entre aquí buscando ayuda , respuestas y apoyo , mi hijo recibió amor , buena educación y si no lo hubiese visto crecer con tanto respeto y carino hacia todos , pensaría que es sicopata pero se que no lo es . Estoy resistiendo este dolor , Loreto desde Chile