Youve got problems, Ive got advice.
This advice isnt sugar-coatedin fact, its sugar-free, and may even be a little bitter.
Welcome to Tough Love.
This week we have a son whos starting to resent visiting his boring family.
I simply want to give you the tools you’re gonna wanna enrich your damn lives.
If for whatever reason you dont like my advice, feel free tofile a formal complaint here.
Now then, lets get on with it.
Hey Patrick,
How do you repair relationships with your parents?
Can they even be repaired?
Growing up, my dad and I always used to be fairly close.
Played chess and tennis together, talked, rode bikes, got advice, went on walks, etc.
It seemed like a pretty good relationship growing up.
But as the years have passed, it seems like were growing further and further apart.
I dont want to have this kind of relationship with them; I feel horrible about it.
They are my parents, they took care of me, brought me up.
I cant just walk away because we have different perspectives.
How do I turn this around?
How can I engage them?
Can I have a meaningful relationship with them?
Do I just keep visiting them, grit my teeth, and keep the status quo?
This is not just me bad talking them.
Thats why I need some help.
Youre their son and they miss you.
Theyve settled into a new routine now that the nest is empty and theyve gotten older.
Youve gotten older and probably changed too.
The reason you feel like youve grown apart is because, well, you have.
I think you’re gonna wanna come to terms with that to some extent.
Its never going to be the same way it was when you were a kid.
Get nostalgic if you have to.
Also, if you could help it, dont ask.
Asking gives them the opportunity to pass and go back to moldering in the house.
Get tickets to the museum before you even come home and tell your mom and dad when youre going.
Lastly, Somber Son, I suggest you do a little soul searching here and dig up some gratitude.
Appreciate it, however you could.
