What it really takes for aging parents and adult children to repair old wounds

(Aging Untold) — As parents age, some might hope for a closer relationship with their adult children. Repairing those relationships takes more than good intentions — it takes ownership, patience and realistic expectations. “Forgiveness takes one person, but a relationship takes more than one” Gerontologist “Sam” Cradduck said families need to understand upfront that they can’t control how the other side responds. “I think it’s real important to understand that forgiveness takes one person, but a relationship takes more than one,” Cradduck said. “And if they’re not willing, there’s not a whole lot you can do.” Cradduck added that many long-running family conflicts have lost their origin story entirely. “Sadly, most of these disconnects, nobody knows what caused it,” Cradduck said. “They’ve been mad for so long, and they’ve lived this life in anger for so long, they don’t even know what happened to start it all.” Her advice for the parent who may have caused the pain: own it. “If you’re