3. Parents and Children May Have Different Expectations
Sometimes nobody is deliberately trying to create distance.
The problem is that both sides may simply be waiting for the other to make the first move.
A parent might think:
“My children know they’re always welcome.”
Meanwhile, the adult child might think:
“I don’t want to bother them.”
Or a parent may expect weekly visits while the child believes once-a-month contact is perfectly reasonable.
When expectations aren’t discussed openly, both sides can interpret silence incorrectly.
One person sees independence.
The other sees rejection.
