In 2018, a reader wrote in seeking advice after his brother’s family cut off contact. Despite sporadic interactions, his brother’s wife and children vanished after moving away.
Recently, he learned that they had relocated nearby but continued to ignore his family. His wife suggested withholding gifts, but he encouraged empathy, suggesting they might be facing challenges.
Despite his attempts to connect, his efforts have not been reciprocated. He has received wedding and graduation invitations but declined them, feeling rejected in turn. He criticized the advice received earlier, stating that he deserved empathy as well.
The author acknowledges that the reader’s focus should have been on maintaining connections with the younger family members, even if their mother was not responsive. However, she points out that the invitations extended by the children indicate a desire for connection and that their rejection only perpetuates the cycle of hurt.
