My teenage kids and I used to have movie nights where we'd all pile on the couch and make fun of bad films together, but now they're either too busy or too cool for family time. When we do manage to get together, everyone's on their phones and I feel like I'm forcing them to participate in something that used to be natural.
More people experience this than they realize.
The rituals that once created connection now highlight the distance, and the parent doesn't know whether to let go or fight for what was.
“Where Are You with Adult play — how to reclaim it?”
If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.