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Cutting off contact with aparentis one of the hardest choices a person can make.
But it doesnt happen without reason.
Now, shocked and conflicted, shes struggling to figure out how to handle it all.
But in the real world,relationshipsare complicated, and family bonds dont always last.
Sometimes, they become so strained that children choose to cut ties entirely.
There might be some cultural shifts around people being allowed to choose who is in your family.
And that can include not choosing to have the person who raised you be in your family.
Reczeks research shows that fathers are estranged from their children far more often than mothers.
A lot of the adult children I talk to, they dont really know their fathers, Reczek explained.
They dont have a really close relationship with them.
And that leads to estrangement.
However, context matters.
While the pain of that choice lingers, it often leads to a healthier and more fulfilling life.
Still, estrangement isnt always permanent.
Some adult children eventually choose to reconnect, and when they do, the results are often positive.
He found that almost none regretted making the effort.
Even if the resulting relationship wasnt perfect, they were still glad theyd done it.
Check out the results:
