Dear Estranged Parents

Listen to this episode from CALLING HOME with Whitney Goodman, LMFT on Spotify. Whitney speaks directly to estranged parents from her experience working with hundreds of adult children who have cut contact with their families. She addresses common arguments from parents like "I have no idea why this happened," "I did the best I could," and "my children are remembering it wrong." She explains why these arguments often do more harm than good and offers alternative reframing that could open the door to genuine repair. This episode is for any estranged parents who genuinely desire to understand their adult children's perspectives and find a path toward authentic repair. Have a question for Whitney? Record a voice memo on your phone and email it to [email protected] Whitney Goodman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and the founder of Calling Home, a membership community that helps people navigate complex family dynamics and break harmful cycles. Join the Family Cyclebreakers Club⁠⁠ Follow Whitney on Instagram | sitwithwhit Follow Whitney on YouTube | @whitneygoodmanlmft ⁠⁠Order Whitney’s book, Toxic Positivity⁠⁠ This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute  for professional mental health advice. 07:45 Argument #1: "I Have No Idea Why This Happened" 15:51 Argument #2: "How Will They Know I've Changed?" 22:08 Argument #3: "I Did the Best I Could" 27:24 Argument #4: "Family Should Always Stick Together" 31:21 Argument #5: "They're Remembering It Wrong" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices