180. Reconciliation Blues

Reconciliation between parents and no-contact adult children can be thought of as a phase of estrangement. That means that for many parents, reconciliation will be disappointing - at least for a while. Things aren’t back to normal. Conversation doesn’t flow. You might still feel estranged, even though there’s contact. What’s going on? In this episode, Tina normalizes some of the disappointing and frustrating aspects of reconciliation. She explains that it’s nobody’s fault, and that it may require continued personal and interpersonal development. If your adult child’s behavior seems unpredictable even though they’re supposed to be reconciled, it doesn’t mean the process has stalled. It may simply mean that it’s getting under way.
EPISODE RESOURCES: Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 164: Emotional Safety Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 171: Understanding Ambivalence Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 144: What’s Your Strategy? Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 97: Road Map to Reconnection (Part 1)
For more information on why adult children become estranged (or "go no-contact") and what parents can do about it, read Tina Gilbertson's book, Reconnecting With Your Estranged Adult Child.
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