My dad remarried five years ago and while I like his wife, family gatherings feel weird because we're all pretending to be closer than we actually are. My siblings and I don't know how to be authentic about the adjustment without hurting anyone's feelings or making Dad feel like he has to choose sides.
More people experience this than they realize.
The desire to make everyone comfortable is creating a performance of closeness that prevents the real relationships from developing naturally.
“Where Are You with Addiction and parenting?”
If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.