100. Why They Don't Reach Out When They Need Help

Why on earth don’t estranged adult children reach out to parents if they need help? Surely the estrangement can be put aside, at least until the crisis is over?
But it doesn’t always happen.
Are estranged adult children just trying to keep up a façade? Does it hurt their egos for parents to know they’re struggling?
Tina suggests in this episode that there are at least 3 other reasons why estranged adult children might not reach out to parents for help.
A fourth, obvious reason that isn’t addressed in the episode is this:
4) They may be able to handle things without help.
Sometimes a parent's only option is to trust adult children to make good decisions, or else to learn from mistakes.
For many more practical tips on how to repair an estranged relationship with your adult child(ren) and yourself, see Tina’s book, Reconnecting With Your Estranged Adult Child.