Family relationships can be deeply meaningful and, at times, incredibly complex. As children grow into adulthood, their needs, priorities, and sense of identity evolve. Parents who were once at the center of their children’s lives may suddenly find themselves on the outside, watching from a distance. Many parents feel confused, hurt, or even rejected when their adult children pull away or reduce contact.

Family relationships are often layered with history, emotion, and change. For many adult children, stepping back from a relationship with a parent is a difficult but necessary decision. Yet after time apart, the desire to reconnect can grow.