That headline probably should be rephrased as "X percentage of parents have estranged at least one of their kids". As far as I know, the estrangement is often protective and boundary-maintaining (i.e. a healthy action).
I suppose there is room for both interpretations here, my wife is fond of those rehab shows. I’m aware of parents actively estranging their children for that reason.
I’m of the other cohort, such that you might say my parent has forced my hand in estranging them through their actions but I feel that is nothing more than word choice.
This article presents a weird description of “estranged” that seems to be hinting at a more of an active choice by a child to ignore a parent, which to me screams “over political differences.” I can’t tell if it’s attempting to include parents that have abandoned children or not.
fwiw, I’m about to turn 40 and haven’t spoken to my father in over 25 years after a falling out… when I was 12. Either of us could easily contacted the other, but neither have ever tried (I don’t honestly know how I’d respond if he tried) - should I be counted in this data?
