Cathy and I took about 12 minutes answering a question about “Teenage Sons Disconnecting from Each Other and Me”

Show Notes:

Click Here to catch the video version of this discussion.

My eldest son (I have 3) turns 16 this Friday. And my youngest son started Middle School this fall. I feel I have been struggling more than usual these past few months about them all getting older. More specifically, about them all getting farther away from me and seemingly farther away from each other. While intellectually, I know this is ‘normal’ for their ages in regards to becoming more independent from parents, I worry about them growing apart from each other. Especially my oldest, who really DOES NOT interact, or even acknowledge the existence of his younger brothers (this has been going on since he started middle school). I think I worry more because they are boys, and when boys become men it is harder for them to stay closer? While I try to foster space for them in our home to express their feelings and show affection/love/closeness with us and within their relationships, the emotional distance between them all seems to be growing. I feel like my worry is making everything harder and worse for all of them, including my husband. I feel I am complicating everyone’s life in my immediate family, and therefore losing out on the JOY of being with them, in addition to making myself feel miserable. How can I ‘let go’ of this issue enough to release pressure on all of them AND myself, without abandoning my desire/hope that they stay close as siblings when they become adults?

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