My mom and I have always had a complicated relationship but since she was diagnosed with cancer six months ago, we've both been trying to connect in ways that feel awkward and forced. We want to make the most of this time but we don't really know how to be tender with each other after years of being guarded.
More people experience this than they realize.
The urgency of mortality can create pressure to achieve a closeness that requires the very vulnerability both people have spent years protecting themselves from.
“Where Are You with Grief rituals across cultures — what they accomplish?”
If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.