Parental estrangement, often shrouded in silence due to social stigma, is a growing phenomenon. This article shares the author’s personal experience with her estranged mother, who struggled with mental illness and abuse. Despite her complexities, the author highlights her mother’s resilience and the challenges of navigating a strained parent-child relationship. The piece explores the misconceptions surrounding parental estrangement, advocating for empathy and understanding for those who choose to separate from abusive parents. The author encourages breaking toxic family secrets and fostering a public community to support estranged individuals and break generational patterns of abuse.