175. Don't Skip This Step!

“Reversing an unwanted estrangement is, in a very particular way, exactly like swimming the English Channel.”
So begins this perspective-shifting episode in which Tina urges parents to prepare for reconnection the way swimmers prepare for a long-distance swim.
Reaching out to your child, whether with an apology, a request for a talk, or an offer to go to therapy together, is like jumping into the Channel and heading for France. How prepared are you for that crossing?
Wanting to be in France isn’t enough fuel to make it there. There are many steps and stages to the project of swimming the Channel. Especially if you’ve never swum in open water, or swum for more than 20 miles at once. The key, according to Tina, is preparation.
Preparing to reconnect takes different forms for different individuals, and estranged adult children have their own preparation to do. On the parents’ side, it may include training for changes you’re thinking of making. And that often requires patience and sustained practice (in other relationships or with yourself).
This episode will inspire you to make effective use of the time imposed by your adult child(ren)'s estrangement.
For much more information on resolving parent-adult child estrangement, read Tina's book, Reconnecting With Your Estranged Adult Child.
Reconnection Club members can discuss this and every episode in the General Discussion forum inside the Reconnection Club. Not a member yet? Learn more and join.
EPISODE LINKS:
Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 97: Road Map to Reconnection, Part 1 Reconnection Club Podcast Ep. 98: Road Map to Reconnection, Part 2