Why We Stop Talking to Our Family Members

KQED's Forum

KQED

News Commentary, News, Politics

4.2 • 727 Ratings

🗓️ 29 June 2021

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

More than a quarter of Americans are estranged from a close family member, new research from Cornell University finds. The reasons for breaking off contact are familiar: divides over money, values and parental divorce, along with tension from parenting choices or in-law relationships. We’ll talk about the nuances of the phenomenon, including U.S. cultural individualism, the nuclear family’s decline, and the traditions of chosen family within LGBTQ+ communities. And, of course, we want to hear your stories about navigating deep rifts within your own family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Support for KQED podcasts comes from San Francisco International Airport.
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0:32.5	a newlywed Jewish couple struggling to make a life in Georgia. When Leo is accused of an unspeakable crime,
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0:59.4	From KQED.
1:00.9	From KQED Public Radio in San Francisco, I'm Alexis Madrigal.
1:16.9	We trust those who've lived a long time to know a thing or two about life.
1:20.7	One researcher found that the biggest regrets of older people's lives are often unresolved family estrangements.
1:26.9	The brother they hadn't talked to for years or the mother they cut off.
1:30.1	At the same time, those who've cut off contact often find more peace and stability in their
1:34.4	lives.
1:35.4	What we know is that millions of Americans have distanced themselves from a family member,
1:39.7	but some people struggle for a lifetime with whether it's the right thing to do.
1:43.6	We'll be talking about what happens when someone close to you drops out of your life or you need some space.
1:48.7	And if you're estranged, is it time to reconcile or stick with your chosen family?
	...

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