How to improve your relationship with your parents in older age

Relationships between parents and adult children are important but complex. In particular, old habits of communication and interaction often prevent family members from establishing and maintaining relationships.

This was reported in Psychology Today. Experts told how easy it is for adult children to improve relationships with their parents.

Talk to each other like adults

After many years of communication, parents and adult children may accidentally fall into communication patterns that are inappropriate for their age. Adult children can often behave like children, especially during conflicts. Parents, in turn, may talk to their children as if they were still young. If this happens, both parties should start communicating more like adults.

Take responsibility for the relationship

Both parents and adult children are responsible for the relationship. This includes initiating contact, finding compromises, talking, and resolving conflicts. If one party simply waits for the other to put in the effort to build and maintain the relationship, it can lead to resentment and misunderstanding.

Conflict resolution

Unhealthy conflict styles can be formed in childhood and are difficult to change. Silence, passive aggression, loud arguments, ignoring problems, and manipulating guilt are just some of the negative patterns that have a bad impact on the relationship between adult children and parents.

Each party should consider their role in conflicts and begin to decide how they can respond differently. Changes in these conflict dances are possible, but only if both parties make an effort to find new ways of interacting.

Respect each other's boundaries

Boundaries go both ways, and parents and children can feel hurt when their boundaries are violated. Parents need to determine if their children are mature and what level of support they are willing to provide. Respecting these boundaries on both sides will help improve relationships.

If you want to get the latest news about the war and events in Ukraine, subscribe to our Telegram channel!