Reconnecting with your adult child: A guide to healing broken relationships

Broken relationships between parents and their grown children are, sadly, very common. Whether actions were simply misunderstood or serious emotional injury was inflicted, it’s a painful situation for everyone involved. While you may not be entirely responsible, initiating reconciliation may be up to you. Here are some points to keep in mind as you seek to reconnect:

• Remember your child is an adult. While you may feel that just yesterday they were children, they are grown and should be treated with the respect they deserve.

• Acknowledge your contribution. There are two sides to every story

- harmless actions in your eyes may have been seen as hurtful to your child. Try to understand their perspective and apologize for your part.

• Be fair. This doesn’t mean you accept all blame and overlook their wrongdoings, but criticizing everything you see wrong may do more harm than good - try to stick to the current issue.

• Get support. By reaching out to a friend or therapist, you can gain a neutral perspective that can help you be more objective and empathetic.

Navigating relationships with adult children can be tricky, but the reward of a healthy connection is worth it. Visit summitcounseling.org to view our services and see how we can help you in your journey!