One of the top calls our counseling team receives is from parents who struggle with feelings of resentment, sadness, or anger because of a fractured relationship with their adult children. It’s heartbreaking.
It’s also common. A 2015 studyby Richard Conti of Kean University found that 43 percent of college students had been estranged from their parents at some point. Twenty-six percent reported extended estrangement.
When a parent/adult child relationship is fractured, the most effective solution is to redefine the boundaries. Boundaries are God’s way for us to live in freedom so that we can take control of our lives and better love Him and others.
We’re focusing on the parent/adult child relationship on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Healing Parent and Adult Child Relationships” with our guest, author and psychologist Dr. John Townsend. He shares:
- Common ways the adult child contributes to the problem in the relationship – and how parents should respond.
- Common ways parents contribute to the rift in the relationship – and how the adult child should respond.
- Basic principles of boundaries, how to set them, and expectations for resistance from the other family member.
- Roadblocks to boundaries.
- Forgiveness and reconciliation.
- How to take your troubles to God to find freedom.
Boundaries create freedom, and freedom always finds its ultimate expression through love. “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Gal. 5:13-14).
Learn how to bring healing to broken family relationships on your local radio station, online, on iTunes, via Podcast, or on our free phone app.
Before I close, I’d like to remind you about our end-of-year campaign here at Focus on the Family. Generous friends are matching every donation you make to this ministry. Which means your gift will go twice as far toward rescuing hurting marriages, equipping parents, and giving families hope.
With your gift of any amount, we’ll send you Dr. John Townsend’s book Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life. Visit our website for more information or call 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459).
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