The parent has to feel like she or he gets a lot back, for themselves, like other, true friendships. Otherwise, it wouldn't be real. Sometimes they have to withdraw, and push away harder, if they were close earlier. This can be painful for the parent. It can be difficult to avoid getting angry or resentful.
Children move on to other relationships.
Their parents can simply feel abandoned. Knowing all of this, I still find some friendship changes difficult with my own children. And it helps to remind ourselves that these friendships evolve and persist by design, but not intentionally. Dr. Schwarzbeck is assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of British Columbia and is on the faculty of the University of Washington Medical School.