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Psychologists say that growing up with both a mother and a father is essential for a persons development.
Thus, other family members or nannies often have to help mothers raise their children.
Thats whatthis womanhad in mind when she decided to gift her former nanny a house.
However, her estranged father then decided to show up and demand financial help.
Hesitant whether turning him down was the right choice, the womanasked others to weigh in.
Bored Pandacontacted Karl Melvin, an Irish psychotherapist and family estrangement expert.
Read his expert insights about family estrangement below!
Otherfamily membersmay push individuals to reconcile with their estranged parents, just like the siblings in this story.
Melvin says thats partly because of how important family is in our society at large.
Anyone connected to the estranged parties may push for a reconciliation, he tells Bored Panda.
Manyestranged peoplefeel the need to hold onto the past to mitigate against bowing to any pressure, he says.
In the end, its up to the person to decide whether to reconnect.
A reconciliation is a deeply personal choice, Melvin says.
A forced or pressurized reconciliation may do more harm than good.
Reconciliation can also mean different things to people.
For some, its continuing the old relationship, if there was one.
Others expect a genuine effort to reflect on mistakes and work toward creating a more respectful and healthier relationship.
Re-establishing a relationship with his daughter might only come second to him.
And being firm if she feels they are intruding on her autonomy.
The Natural Nanny Collectivewrites that nannies become extended family members.
They share the everyday joys and sorrows of their life and are there to witness the most important moments.
Children can become even more attached to live-in nannies.
And sometimes, parents might find itdifficult to dealwith the fact that the child prefers their nanny to them.
But thats not the tragedy most parents imagine it to be.
Children benefit from the love of all the adults in their lives, parenting coachSue Atkinswrites.
Different caregivers have different gifts to give them in terms of time, patience and interests.
In this story, the nanny became a closer family member than the estranged father.
