Estranged Stories

Understanding. Support. Peace. Hope.

A place for people experiencing estrangement or cut off from their family to find support, hopefully peace, and some understanding.

SURVEYS!

Finally.. surveys are ready.
There is a completely confidential survey for Parents that are Estranged from their Adult Children and there is a a survey for Adult Children. I urge all of you to take the time to answer honestly! If there are ever going to be answers or help for this issue.. we need everyone's participation! Thank you in advance for your time!
UPDATE
I am also interested in the family patterns of estrangement. I have created a very short set of questions. Even if you have previously taken the main survey, I would appreciate your additional contribution to further our understanding of this issue. Please see the link below.
Click here to take the Parents Estranged from Adult Children survey now.

Click here to take the Adult Children Estranged from Parents survey now.

Click here to take the Family Patterns Survey now

Members

  • Cynthia Julian
  • Janie Marek
  • Bernadette
  • Marie
  • Lynda
  • Pamela Piccione
  • debby
  • Lost2
  • Kim
  • PD
  • allan connon
  • Gale
  • beginnerseye
  • Melissa
  • MusicalWinter
  • Alyce Dearon

Videos

Books

Extraordinary Relationships: A New Way of Thinking About Human Interactions
by Roberta M. Gilbert

The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement
by Jean M. Twenge Ph.D.
W. Keith Campbell Ph.D.

Healing from family rifts: Ten steps to finding peace after being cut off from a family member, by Mark Sichel, LCSW

When Parents Hurt: Compassionate Strategies When You and Your Grown Child Don’t Get Along, by Joshua Coleman

I Thought We’d Never Speak Again: The Road from Estrangement to Reconciliation, by Laura Davis

Family Estrangements: How They Begin, How to Mend Them, How to Cope with Them, by Barbara Lebay

Letting Go of Our Adult Children: When What We Do Is Never Enough
by Arlene Harder

FRAGMENTED FAMILIES: Patterns of Estrangement and Reconciliation, by Ellen Sucov

Walking on Eggshells: Navigating the Delicate Relationship Between Adult Children and Parents, by Jane Isay

For Mothers of Difficult Daughters; How to Enrich and Repair the Relationship in Adulthood, by Charney Herst

When You and Your Mother Can't Be Friends: Resolving the Most Complicated Relationship of Your Life, by Victoria Secunda

I'm OK, You're My Parents : How to Overcome Guilt, Let Go of Anger, and Create a Relationship That Works, by Dale Atkins

Making Peace with Your Parents, by Harold Bloomfield MD

Making Peace With Your Adult Children: A Guide to Family Healing, by Shauna Smith

Heal and Forgive II: The Journey from Abuse and Estrangement to Reconciliation, by Nancy Richards


Articles and Links

Therapists Find Last Outpost of Adolescence in Adulthood, NY Times, 1988

Have We Become a Nation of Narcissists? by Dr Ron Pies, MD

College students think they're so special
Study finds alarming rise in narcissism, self-centeredness in ‘Generation Me’

OverIndulging our Kids is a Hazard, Not a Gift

Take the Narcissistic Personality Inventory
Me, me, me! America’s ‘Narcissism Epidemic’
Authors say long-term consequences are destructive to society

The Price of Affluence
New research shows that privileged teens may be more self-centered—and depressed—than ever before.

By Amy Novotney

The High Cost of Avoiding Difficult Conversations

Lost Graces: Duty
Rev. Susan L. Van Dreser
“We need to restore the full meaning of that old word. It is the other side of rights.”
~Pearl S. Buck

Many boomers may face old age alone

By: Karen S. Peterson

Why are families growing apart?
Excerpted from Family Estrangements: How They Begin, How to Mend Them, How to Cope with Them
By Barbara LeBey


Grow up, twenty-somethings. You can go home again

"I Haven't Spoken to My Parents In 8 Years" NYTimes Article by Lawrence Kutner

BOWEN THEORY

Treat your children, and your parents well USA Today

Therapists Find Last Outpost Of Adolescence In Adulthood
 

Latest Activity

Susan commented on Susan's blog post 'change, boundaries, and punishment'
Hi Elizabeth I saw your post last night but by the time I got home and did all the mommy stuff, I fell into bed While I understand the view that divorce is really only about the relationship between 2 people, I respectfully disagree in the case w...
yesterday
Lost2 replied to Lost2's discussion 'Amazing....'
Somehow I lost this.. wanted to make sure everyone had a chance to see/hear it if you want to.... thanks! E
on Wednesday

Forum

Lost2

Misson Statement.... 31 Replies

Started by Lost2 in Uncategorized. Last reply by Bernadette 3 hours ago.

Bernadette

Her choices are her own...or are they? 25 Replies

Started by Bernadette in Parents Estranged from Children. Last reply by Bernadette 4 hours ago.

Julia Hellen-Kirwan

Thanks 1 Reply

Started by Julia Hellen-Kirwan in Parents Estranged from Children. Last reply by Nancy 1 day ago.

Deb MacLeod

Well, it goes like this.. 6 Replies

Started by Deb MacLeod in Adult Children Estranged from Parents. Last reply by Melissa 1 day ago.

Bernadette

Two Tech Questions: 12 Replies

Started by Bernadette in Parents Estranged from Children. Last reply by B'lana Nov 7.

Blog Posts

Pamela Piccione

Re-defining "fear"

I have worked with special needs students for over 30 years. Currently, I am on a regular high school campus. Each day, I integrate 5 special education students into a regular drama class. On Wednesday, during this 4th period drama class, a loaded gun was found in a student's backpack. For a time, there was much chaos. The police arrived and the boy was arrested. I was asked "Weren't you scared to death?' Amazingly, I was not. I am more frightened by my son and my daughter than I am of a loaded… Continue

Posted by Pamela Piccione on November 8, 2009 at 1:59am — 12 Comments

Pamela Piccione

Giant Pinball Machine

This is most likely a rhetorical question but have any of you ever felt as though you were living inside of an immense pinball game? Throughout the day, I have posted and replied to posts with regard to "toxic" adult children. Many of us spoke of how our children come and go from our lives. They stay away and then on a whim, they return. As quickly as they came, they are gone again. I would be happy to ask my semi ES to simply leave me alone. It would be difficult for a while but in the long ter… Continue

Posted by Pamela Piccione on November 7, 2009 at 10:07pm — 13 Comments

Pamela Piccione

Toxic Children

Many years ago, I was given a book to read. The book addressed "toxic parents". My mother has always been "toxic" and as a result, has "poisoned" many relationships. But I digress. I have yet to find a book with regard to "toxic children". I have concluded that my son is much like a virus. He enters my life on a whim and I am filled with joy. But the "false hope" is short lived. While he is back in my life, he finds ways to hurt and make me "ill". As quickly as he is here, he is gone again. I he… Continue

Posted by Pamela Piccione on November 7, 2009 at 2:00pm — 28 Comments

Susan

How about some good stuff

Given the nature of why we are all here, it can be pretty easy to just focus on the negative.

Last night I was sitting in bed, "playing cards" with my son (I use the term loosely since he is 4 and his idea of playing cards is to sort out the red from black and then we each "play" a card till we find a match) and watch how happy he was, just doing that, laughing when his daddy made mistakes

I started thinking about my own childhood

It wasn't perfect but no one has a perfect childhood. I would… Continue

Posted by Susan on November 7, 2009 at 8:03am — 5 Comments

Cynthia Julian

Might be sick...would my kids care?

I am in the process of being tested for Thyroid cancer. I am trying to be calm, but as you can imagine I am tense. I am praying it is benign.. but who knows. Should know next week. The thought that keeps crossing my mind is that if I do end up having to battle cancer should I even tell my estranged kids? What is the point? If I tell them and they don't respond how could I live through that? So, I think I best not even go there. I pray it is benign, but is pretty large ( the tumor). If I need to… Continue

Posted by Cynthia Julian on November 7, 2009 at 3:32am — 15 Comments

Notes

Mission Statement

This site does not condone rudeness to anyone. 

You may or may not agree, but I am interesting in promoting support, understanding of our situations, and hopefully this will help some heal.  I realize that some need more time than others to progress, but with so many people on the site, in order to be effective, I believe that the best use of this site .... recognizing the selflessness of those who are willing to spend the time to read and respond... that the following is appropriate… Continue

Created by Lost2 Nov 6, 2009 at 7:28pm. Last updated by Lost2 Nov 6.

Disclaimer

EstrangedStories Full Disclaimer

1. EstrangedStories.ning.com does not provide professional psychiatric or psychological counseling, advice or services . If you need therapy, professional consultation, or psychiatric consultation, we recommend you consult with a licensed mental health professional in your area. Th
… Continue

Created by Lost2 Oct 10, 2009 at 3:23pm. Last updated by Lost2 Oct 10.

GUIDELINES AND RULES FOR USE OF SITE

Following are some general guidelines for the estrangedstories.ning.com community.  We don't intend to censor messages based on the opinions expressed within posts, but we will enforce the policies outlined here on profiles, discussions and forums.

We reserve the right to remove, modify or move posts at our discretion and without explanation. Please contact us if you do not understand any of the rules, guidelines or policies outlined below. Removal of your profile (Banned Member) is a… Continue

Created by Lost2 Apr 18, 2009 at 5:29pm. Last updated by Lost2 Apr 22.

 
 

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