Questions tagged [estranged-relations]
For use on questions where there was an existing relationship that has been lost due to physical or emotional distancing.
18
questions
45
votes
7
answers
14k
views
How to avoid "who are you?" as a response to "how are you?"
Last week, I got a phone call from an unknown number, and the conversation went this way:
Her : How are you?
Me : Who are you?
To put things in context, she turned out to be an old ...
24
votes
4
answers
9k
views
Received a large monetary gift from an estranged grandparent - now what?
This afternoon my parents visited me. It was all pretty normal until just before they left, they told me that my estranged grandfather apparently suddenly felt the need to donate a large gift of money ...
- 7,284
13
votes
4
answers
7k
views
How can I ask my ex's parents how my ex is feeling after the break-up without making it too awkward?
My ex-boyfriend and I had a difficult break-up. We haven't talked much since but I recently got a message from him about how he can't even enjoy watching TV shows anymore because this is something we ...
- 7,496
10
votes
5
answers
1k
views
How do I get my father back after an extended time of being estranged?
Long story short: my mother recently has been diagnosed with an inoperable malignant brain tumor and her biggest wish is for us to mend our relationship before she dies. My father and I have had ...
- 101
7
votes
3
answers
986
views
How can I approach my dad talking to me about nothing but career and life choices?
TL;DR Strained relationship with my father, symptoms of which are: the only thing he can talk to me about are life choices, when I want to talk about literally anything else. How can I discuss this ...
- 577
7
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How to repair my relationship with my sister?
My sister and I were best friends growing up. In the past couple of years, she has met, dated, and married a guy with mental health problems that affect their day to day life. My sister didn't know ...
- 81
7
votes
3
answers
1k
views
how do I get back in touch with my estranged mother?
I'm aware of this question but I think my situation is different.
I cut off contact with my parents 5 years ago after a physical confrontation with my father that continues to scare me. I ignored all ...
- 71
6
votes
3
answers
2k
views
How to decline attending a funeral
To set the scene my family are very strict on the idea of family and respect.
However, I do not wish to attend the funeral for a few reasons.
I did not visit this relative for at the very least five ...
- 213
6
votes
3
answers
991
views
How can I politely inform my grandmother that I cannot provide my mother's contact information
My mother has a strained relationship with her family, particularly her mother. As children, we only met my mother's side of the family on rare occasions and now that my siblings and I are grown, I ...
- 161
5
votes
2
answers
501
views
How to gracefully navigate potentially negative or bewildered reactions to calling a long lost relative?
I am seeking to reconnect with my estranged father of 20 years. I found an entry in the phone book that could potentially be his father (my grandfather). The name matches and it's a 20 minute walk to ...
- 1,965
4
votes
1
answer
518
views
How to cold call/post a long lost relative?
My mother lost touch with her cousins many years ago and I would have been about 5 years old the last time I seen them. I am 30 now.
I am doing family research and trying to build the family tree. ...
- 1,965
4
votes
1
answer
752
views
How to clarify to a friend-now-co-worker that I want our relationship to be less extensive?
I have known Bob for some five years - followed a few courses together, then worked closely together on a few projects, and now we share an office but work on largely separate things. Because we are ...
- 43
3
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How to ask a stranger on Facebook to talk to someone about getting in touch without sounding like a creepy stalker?
I found a long lost relative of mine on Facebook. He is my paternal uncle. I added him as a friend and sent a message a few months ago. My relative does not go on Facebook very often and has not yet ...
- 1,965
3
votes
2
answers
461
views
How to reach out to an old family friend about information about my father?
I'm 30 years old and I am trying to piece together my family tree. I haven't seen my father since I was 11 but my mother's friend's husband was friends with my father in high school.
I seen these ...
- 1,965
2
votes
2
answers
683
views
How to talk about what religious denomination you belong to without making the person uncomfortable?
I recently came into contact with some close relatives (my paternal grandparents) that I've never met and we've been talking on the phone and over email for a month or so. I sent them pictures of my ...
- 1,965
2
votes
0
answers
118
views
how to end friendship with ex crush [closed]
It is a quite complicated. We were school friends. I had crush on her a long ago. we were very good friends then. then we got separated. after 6-7 years, she again got my number and we started talking ...
- 121
0
votes
0
answers
483
views
How to help a friend determine if they are happy or just settling in a long term relationship?
Through my years until recently I have had friends or just known people who have been in relationships that they generally considered long term and committed, but were open (at least to me) about the ...
- 309
-3
votes
1
answer
724
views
etiquette in dealing with long cold war [closed]
Let's call this friend, lady A.
We begun as friends three years ago through a dating site but she was warm with her affections shortly into the friendship through the show of her handmade gifts to me....
