In this episode, we’re unpacking a topic that was submitted by one of our listeners. We’ve mentioned folks who’ve cut ties with family members because of unhealthy relationships, but we haven’t talked about maintaining a relationship with a parent when y’all just don’t get along. Well, until today, that is.

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
Strained Parent-Child Relationship [2:20]

• Difficulty in connecting with parents as an adult, experiencing a surface-level relationship.

• Parents treat the individual as a young child needing constant guidance and direction.

• Feeling that opinions and decisions are not valued.

• Tension in the relationship leading to avoiding family interactions and limited communication.

• Parents consistently push for higher achievements, disregarding personal aspirations and choices.

• Desire for individual autonomy and to forge their own path being met with resistance and imposition of the parents' plans.

• Instances throughout life where the parents seemed to undervalue the individual's identity and growth as an adult.

• Tension in the relationship leading to avoiding family interactions and limited communication.

  
  Understanding Autonomy and Growth Pains [4:14]

• Reflections on the challenges of growing up and the parallel experience of parents witnessing their child's journey into adulthood.

• Acknowledging the natural inclination for parents to perceive their children as "forever young" and maintain a nurturing, protective mindset.

• Drawing parallels from personal experiences of leadership roles, where similar nurturing energy exists towards others.

• Recognizing the difficulty of asserting one's adulthood and maturity while maintaining respect towards parents.

Navigating Conflict with a Father [19:47]

• Relationship struggles during teenage years.

• A father's expectations of being an upstanding man 

• Persistent effort to establish a relationship where they could be seen as equals by their father

• Desire to engage in genuine conversations about upbringing, instilled values, and the father's own limitations.

• Navigating projected expectations.

• Persistent seeking of understanding and connection, while recognizing the need for personal boundaries and self-acceptance.

Saying what you need [28:51]

• Adaptability and being prepared for their response.

• The first step is to say what you need.

• Two choices, stop calling or accept the conversation.

• Decide to stay or not stay.

How to navigate difficult situations with parents. [33:24]

• Be prepared for how they may or may not receive it.

• Seek out support.

• Relationships are about practice and practice.

• The importance of taking a break.

• Lessons learned about parent-child relationships as an adult.

• Respect for parents as an individual.

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