Although heartbreaking, family estrangement is quite a common occurrence. Research shows that 27% of Americans have a family member they have no contact with. And it’s not necessarily parents and children. Rifts between siblings happen, too. After years of not talking, people find it hard to reconnect: “What if the other person hates me? What if they (or I) can’t forgive?”
The author of this story found himself in a similar situation. The Redditor u/Longest-Journey had a son who wanted to reconnect. But the OP felt that there was too much hurt and pain and found himself unable to do it. So he asked other netizens to weigh in.
To know more about family rifts and how to repair them, Bored Panda reached out to Fern Schumer Chapman. She is the author of several books, including Brothers, Sisters, Strangers, and The Sibling Estrangement Journal. She offers private, one-on-one coaching sessions to those who struggle with sibling estrangement issues, as well.
