Since You Asked with Lori Gottlieb and Gretchen Rubin Should You Cut Ties With a Parent? Plus: Chrissy Teigen Wants Friendship Advice
Feb 3, 2026
Conversation about whether an adult should maintain contact with a critical parent and practical middle-ground options. A listener struggles with shame after an un forgiven thoughtless remark and how to move forward. A quick poll asks when lying is justified. Chrissy Teigen seeks tips for staying close to friends when life gets busy.
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Support Without Pushing
- Validate the adult child's experience and ask permission before offering opinions about their parent.
- Help the child experiment with intentional, limited forms of contact rather than forcing a binary cut-off decision.
Try Structured, Low-Stress Visits
- Encourage the son to try different visit formats, set boundaries, and experiment before choosing permanent estrangement.
- Suggest shared low-talk activities (watching sports, TV) to be together without verbal conflict.
Loneliness Fuels Criticism
- Parents who become bitter often rely too heavily on adult children for connection and meaning.
- A small expression of gratitude from the child can shift the parent's mood and interaction pattern.
