When your adult daughter pulls away: Estrangment from the mothers side [Ep. 62]

When your adult daughter pulls away: Estrangment from the mothers side [Ep. 62]

From Mother Daughter Relationship Show by Brittney Scott

April 3, 2026 · 19 min · Season 3 · Episode 62

About this episode

This episode addresses mothers dealing with estrangement from their adult daughters, focusing on the concept of ambiguous loss and offering insights on how to cope and understand the situation.

To the Mothers Whose Daughters Pulled Away: Understanding Ambiguous Loss In this compassionate yet accountable episode, I speak directly to mothers experiencing estrangement or distance from their adult daughters. I name what you're feeling, "ambiguous loss," and give you permission to grieve a relationship with someone who's still alive but no longer accessible to you. From the isolation of explaining why your daughter doesn't call, to the shame you carry at family gatherings, I validate the very real pain you're experiencing while also holding you responsible for examining your role. I break down the stories you might be telling yourself (she hates me, I failed, it's too late), explain why your daughter's distance is protection rather than punishment, and reveal why trying harder through more texts and unannounced visits only creates more distance. Most importantly, I show you what a different approach could look like and what work you can do whether your daughter participates or not. With this episode you'll be able to: Understand that ambiguous loss - grieving someone who's alive but inaccessible - is valid grief Recognize why comments like "what did you do?" compound your…

More episodes of Mother Daughter Relationship Show

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Mother Daughter Relationship Show podcast page.