CAN THE LESSONS I LEARNED FROM ESTRANGEMENT APPLY TO MY OTHER SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIPS?  I know I have learned a lot about myself, my son, and my daughter through estrangement.  However, this week, I realized that estrangement lessons are really life lessons.

HOW DID I TURN ESTRANGEMENT INTO A THERAPEUTIC JOURNEY? THE PHYSICAL PILLAR

The physical pillar is based on developing and maintaining our body in order to keep it working at an optimal level. It is at this point in my estrangement journey that I see the five major areas of personal development intersecting in my life and growing me.

HOW DID I TURN ESTRANGEMENT INTO A THERAPEUTIC JOURNEY? THE EMOTIONAL PILLAR CONTINUED.  Of the 5 pillars of personal development, the emotional pillar is often the hardest for many people.  It is the most difficult one for me, which is why I devoted 2 segments to my emotional challenges.  And, I anticipate more on the emotional pillar in future podcast segments.

EPISODE #7 HOW DID I TURN ESTRANGEMENT INTO A THERAPEUTIC JOURNEY? STEP 2.  Estrangement is an emotional journey, so it is important for me to share how I learned to connect with my emotions and focus on responding rather than reacting.  I am thankful to all of those who took this journey with me.

HOW DID I TURN ESTRANGEMENT INTO A THERAPEUTIC JOURNEY?  When I began my life as an estranged parent, I did not even know I was on a journey.  All I knew was I had to find some way to survive each and every day for my other child who was in my life.  It is only by looking back that I can see it was a pathway, a new beginning, a journey of self-discovery.

Should I Write to My Estranged Adult Son or Daughter? Oftentimes, estranged parents grapple with this question.  We are afraid to write, and we are afraid not to write.  If we do write, our communication may be miscommunicated.  If we don't write, we believe the connection will be lost forever.  Each parent has to answer this question on his/her own.  In this episode, I provide some reflective questions for parents to consider.

What Might An Estrangement Journey Look Like?  During my lived experience as an estranged parent, I have gone through distinct phases or stages on this painful journey.  However, I did not think of myself as "estranged" until years later.  As you listen, please remember that my emotional journey is distinctly my own.

Can We Make Estrangement a Little Less Painful?  There are many estranged sons and daughters who decide or who have no choice but to estrange themselves from their parents. And, there are some estranged parents who have experienced the double tragedy of losing a child through death and losing a child through estrangement.  Some of these parents share that the loss through estrangement includes an added level of grief because there is no closure.  As more sons, daughters, and parents are estranging, we must examine the "how," even when we may never know the "why." 

SOCIAL STIGMA & WHAT DO I SAY?  This episode is about the fear and pain estranged parents encounter when asked about their estranged adult son or daughter.  "How are your kids doing?" is a complex question for estranged parents.  The episode provides 12 possible honest responses estranged parents can use to respond.

WHAT IS ESTRANGEMENT? THAT IS THE QUESTION THAT WILL BE EXPLORED DURING THIS EPISODE.  SOMETIMES, PARENTS ARE SHOCKED BY WHAT APPEARS TO BE A SUDDEN BREAK IN A RELATIONSHP WITH AN ADULT SON OR DAUGHTER.  HOWEVER, THE RELATIONSHP MIGHT HAVE BEEN STEADILY DECLINING FOR SOME TIME.