Adult Children Calling Less: Can Connections Be Rebuilt?

Adult children are increasingly less likely to call their parents, prompting a discussion about how to mend strained family relationships. The central question is whether parents or their adult children should adapt when connections become tense. According to Aušra Rupeikaitė, a lecturer at the "PERKŪNIJA" studio, the answer often surprises people: rebuilding relationships begins not with attempts to change the other person, but with the ability to alter one's own perspective and approach.

Rupeikaitė offers practical advice for parents navigating these challenges. She emphasizes that parents should focus less on explaining and lecturing, and more on asking questions. This approach encourages dialogue and understanding, shifting the dynamic from one of instruction to one of mutual exploration. The goal is to foster a more open and less confrontational environment, allowing for the possibility of reconnection.

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changes begin not with trying to change another person, but with the ability to change one's relationship to him.

The advice suggests a fundamental shift in parental strategy. Instead of trying to impose their views or expectations on their adult children, parents are encouraged to examine their own role in the relationship. This self-reflection and willingness to adapt can be the catalyst for positive change, potentially leading to the restoration of a closer bond. The emphasis on asking questions rather than providing answers aims to empower adult children and create space for them to share their own perspectives.

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less explaining, more asking.