97. Road Map to Reconnection, Part 1

About this episode

Tina Gilbertson discusses the importance of a stepwise approach to reconnecting with estranged adult children, emphasizing the need to slow down and avoid impulsive actions.

Episodes 97, 98 and 99 form a 3-part series outlining an overall stepwise approach to reconnecting with your estranged adult child. In the first episode, Tina explains why it's important to slow down and avoid acting impulsively, from a place of desperation. This foundational episode provides a rationale for Step 1, and then lists specific tasks appropriate for this first phase of responding to your adult child's estrangement. You'll learn why it's necessary to pay attention to your nervous system, and how best to avoid unnecessary suffering. (According to Buddhism, pain is unavoidable, but suffering is optional.) Reconnection Club members can find an annotated guide to the Road Map , with links to Tina's favorite resources, inside the Reconnection Club.

People in this episode

Host: Tina Gilbertson

Topics covered

• reconnection
• estrangement
• parenting
• self-improvement
• mental health

Keywords

• estranged adult child
• reconnection
• nervous system
• suffering
• self-improvement

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Road Map to Reconnection, Buddhism

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• 223. Three Mistakes Parents Make When Reconnecting with Adult Children · May 4, 2026 · 8 min
• Important announcement regarding episode expiration · July 17, 2024 · 3 min
• Important Announcement Regarding Access to This Podcast · February 5, 2024 · 2 min
• 99. Road Map to Reconnection, Part 3 · October 18, 2021 · 21 min
• 95. The Deep Pain of the Rejected Parent · September 20, 2021 · 11 min
• 93. You're Both Adults, But Not Peers · September 6, 2021 · 12 min