Emi Nietfeld

And then when I hung up, I felt so much relief.

And then when I hung up, I felt so much relief.

Immediately. But then I started getting all of these text messages, all of these emails from my mom, just pretending that nothing had happened. And I think when the media talks about estrangement, it's often framed as like the moment of estrangement is the moment that you lose somebody. But what I experienced, and I think a lot of people experience, is that we've already lost that relationship.

Immediately. But then I started getting all of these text messages, all of these emails from my mom, just pretending that nothing had happened. And I think when the media talks about estrangement, it's often framed as like the moment of estrangement is the moment that you lose somebody. But what I experienced, and I think a lot of people experience, is that we've already lost that relationship.

Immediately. But then I started getting all of these text messages, all of these emails from my mom, just pretending that nothing had happened. And I think when the media talks about estrangement, it's often framed as like the moment of estrangement is the moment that you lose somebody. But what I experienced, and I think a lot of people experience, is that we've already lost that relationship.

Or we've already lost the sense of love and safety that we want to have with somebody that makes them feel like family to us. It felt more like letting go of a lie than letting go of my actual real-life mom.

Or we've already lost the sense of love and safety that we want to have with somebody that makes them feel like family to us. It felt more like letting go of a lie than letting go of my actual real-life mom.

Or we've already lost the sense of love and safety that we want to have with somebody that makes them feel like family to us. It felt more like letting go of a lie than letting go of my actual real-life mom.

I ended up getting a cousin to orchestrate my mom meeting my daughter. And so my husband took her over to a coffee shop. They spent, you know, an hour and a half together. And, you know, my mom got to hold her. My daughter's too young to remember it. But I... I think it was really important for me because it helped me believe that I'm not trying to punish my mom.

I ended up getting a cousin to orchestrate my mom meeting my daughter. And so my husband took her over to a coffee shop. They spent, you know, an hour and a half together. And, you know, my mom got to hold her. My daughter's too young to remember it. But I... I think it was really important for me because it helped me believe that I'm not trying to punish my mom.

I ended up getting a cousin to orchestrate my mom meeting my daughter. And so my husband took her over to a coffee shop. They spent, you know, an hour and a half together. And, you know, my mom got to hold her. My daughter's too young to remember it. But I... I think it was really important for me because it helped me believe that I'm not trying to punish my mom.

And I think that the taboos against estrangement really push people to justify cutting ties in ways that aren't really healthy. You know, there's no estrangement police. There shouldn't be an estrangement police. And this is America. We have the right to never speak to our parents again. Really, like, if you're like, oh, duty, obligation, it's like, that is not American.

And I think that the taboos against estrangement really push people to justify cutting ties in ways that aren't really healthy. You know, there's no estrangement police. There shouldn't be an estrangement police. And this is America. We have the right to never speak to our parents again. Really, like, if you're like, oh, duty, obligation, it's like, that is not American.

And I think that the taboos against estrangement really push people to justify cutting ties in ways that aren't really healthy. You know, there's no estrangement police. There shouldn't be an estrangement police. And this is America. We have the right to never speak to our parents again. Really, like, if you're like, oh, duty, obligation, it's like, that is not American.

Just think of all the people at Ellis Island holding a suitcase, thinking, I'm never going to see my family again, and being overjoyed that that's the case. Yeah. Back then, you really got a clean break. And now you almost have to estrange yourself because the person you don't want to talk to can text you all day, every day.

Just think of all the people at Ellis Island holding a suitcase, thinking, I'm never going to see my family again, and being overjoyed that that's the case. Yeah. Back then, you really got a clean break. And now you almost have to estrange yourself because the person you don't want to talk to can text you all day, every day.

Just think of all the people at Ellis Island holding a suitcase, thinking, I'm never going to see my family again, and being overjoyed that that's the case. Yeah. Back then, you really got a clean break. And now you almost have to estrange yourself because the person you don't want to talk to can text you all day, every day.

No, it's true because people talk about estrangement like it's a technology problem as if like TikTok and Instagram are just infecting everybody's minds with this idea. I think it's a technology problem in the other way where we're way too accessible and there's no more etiquette anymore.

No, it's true because people talk about estrangement like it's a technology problem as if like TikTok and Instagram are just infecting everybody's minds with this idea. I think it's a technology problem in the other way where we're way too accessible and there's no more etiquette anymore.

No, it's true because people talk about estrangement like it's a technology problem as if like TikTok and Instagram are just infecting everybody's minds with this idea. I think it's a technology problem in the other way where we're way too accessible and there's no more etiquette anymore.