A Mother's Desperation Turns to Heartbreak as Her Ex-Husband Fails to Connect with Their Son After Surgery.
The emotional toll of watching a child struggle can be overwhelming for any parent, but one mother's experience takes it to an extreme. She and her ex-husband, "Hank," have two sons together - both smart, kind, and independent young adults. However, their youngest son, Andrew, has been estranged from his father since childhood due to Hank's harsh words and behavior.
The situation came to a head when Andrew had emergency surgery this week, and his father showed no interest in checking in on him. The mother is now at her wit's end, feeling that her ex-husband's behavior towards their son has broken her heart. She wonders if there's anything else they can do to help the estrangement between Hank and Andrew.
Dear Abby's response acknowledges that Hank's actions have caused irreparable harm to his relationship with his son. The advice suggests that therapy might be beneficial for Andrew, but only if he agrees to work through his emotional pain. It also implies that the mother should try individual therapy for her son, not just family therapy or marriage counseling.
In a poignant parallel, another reader from Pakistan shares her own struggles with social connections as a child and now as an adult. Her 7-year-old son is exhibiting similar behavior, seeking friendships through video calls and messages but struggling to form meaningful relationships with other children's parents.
Dear Abby advises that friendships evolve naturally and may not be something the child can force or control. Encouraging exposure to various activities and individuals can help him develop social skills and potentially overcome his fears of being socially isolated like his mother was.
The emotional toll of watching a child struggle can be overwhelming for any parent, but one mother's experience takes it to an extreme. She and her ex-husband, "Hank," have two sons together - both smart, kind, and independent young adults. However, their youngest son, Andrew, has been estranged from his father since childhood due to Hank's harsh words and behavior.
The situation came to a head when Andrew had emergency surgery this week, and his father showed no interest in checking in on him. The mother is now at her wit's end, feeling that her ex-husband's behavior towards their son has broken her heart. She wonders if there's anything else they can do to help the estrangement between Hank and Andrew.
Dear Abby's response acknowledges that Hank's actions have caused irreparable harm to his relationship with his son. The advice suggests that therapy might be beneficial for Andrew, but only if he agrees to work through his emotional pain. It also implies that the mother should try individual therapy for her son, not just family therapy or marriage counseling.
In a poignant parallel, another reader from Pakistan shares her own struggles with social connections as a child and now as an adult. Her 7-year-old son is exhibiting similar behavior, seeking friendships through video calls and messages but struggling to form meaningful relationships with other children's parents.
Dear Abby advises that friendships evolve naturally and may not be something the child can force or control. Encouraging exposure to various activities and individuals can help him develop social skills and potentially overcome his fears of being socially isolated like his mother was.
... I mean, you feel for this mom, right? She's already having a tough time as a single parent, and then her ex-husband just disappears on their son when he needs him most. It's heartbreaking. And now they're suggesting therapy for Andrew, which is great, but what about Hank getting his act together and making amends with his own kid?! 
I think it's crazy that the therapist is telling the mom to focus on herself too... shouldn't Hank be trying to repair their relationship?! And that Pakistani woman's story is really interesting - I wonder if her kid will ever overcome his fears like she did. Maybe we can learn from each other's experiences and find ways to support our kids in forming strong connections with others 
. And now she's at her wit's end, wondering if there's anything they can do to fix this broken bond 
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! I can totally relate to how hard it must be to watch your kid struggle with social connections... but at least Dear Abby gave some hope that exposure to new people and activities might help him overcome his fears 
. Fingers crossed for both of these families, they need all the love and support right now 
It's the least Hank could do after all those years of ignoring Andrew. I mean, what did he expect? A warm welcome back with a big hug and a "I'm sorry for everything"? Not gonna happen. Now his mom's heartbroken and it's just sad. 
. If only we could help kids develop these skills earlier on, like Dear Abby suggests... exposure to different activities and people... maybe then Andrew wouldn't be so scared to form friendships that aren't just digital 
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. Maybe some kids need a little more time and space to develop their social skills, but it doesn't make it any easier for them or their parents.
. And I love the parallel from Pakistan with her 7-year-old son - social connections are so important for kids, and it's not about forcing them into something they're uncomfortable with 
. Maybe some group activities or sports teams where he can meet other kids who share similar interests 
. That would be a great first step in helping him overcome this social isolation 
.
. That's some messed up logic right there... and now we're talking about a kid who might grow up thinking he's unlovable just because of how his dad treated him? 
. I mean, can you blame her for feeling that way? It's clear Hank has done irreparable damage to their relationship with his harsh words and behavior back then. #JusticeForAndrew
! I feel so bad for that kid, seeking friendship through screens when he needs human connection 
. And now she's wondering if they can ever fix things between Hank and Andrew... it feels like such a long shot 
. my heart goes out to that little boy who's struggling with social connections too - it sounds like his mom and Hank are both struggling with raising him to be confident and independent 
. maybe therapy can help, but also let's not forget the power of patience, love, and human connection