12 Comments
Jan 12Liked by Kim Van Bruggen

This is gold.

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So wise Kim. So very wise.

I have to say this is my favorite feature of yours. I always learn something.

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Jan 12Liked by Kim Van Bruggen

Thanks for bringing this one to the surface Kim - Battling Egos are such a huge part of falling out spells.

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So much wisdom in this. It's hard NOT to try to broker a "peace" when a) it's been part of your job for years (as it has mine) and b) when you are a perfectionist pleaser-type... lol. There's a Stack called The Anxious Overachiever that talks a great deal about Family Systems and how we "overfunction" for each other that echoes much of this... I don't think I could survive without it. 😂

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I'll have to check it out! I've got three adult children and depending on the day/month/year one or the other isn't talking to one or the other.🤷🏼‍♀️

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Lol, they all love that I can't talk. Here's the link... https://theanxiousoverachiever.substack.com/

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It’s hard to give up a vision of family togetherness, but the armchair and its occupant speak the truth! If the sis with the noxious mate eventually goes solo, her truth-telling sibling will be the one she trusts most. Who knows what’s in the future? Courage, mum!

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Right?? I learned my lesson the hard way. Years ago, I told one of my son's I didn't think the girl he was dating at the time was right for him. I think the relationship lasted longer because I opened my big mouth and he was so stubborn he didn't want me to be right!

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Jan 12Liked by Kim Van Bruggen

Deja vu - I have a sister/daughter with the same dynamics and it is so hard for my sister to just let it go. And the crummy relationship never ends.

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Ugh. Hopefully it just needed to run its course regardless of maternal advice.

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I have an intractable family problem for which I can do nothing to make a change. I was given similar advice: the problem is not mine to solve. The solution is in another person’s hands. As hard as it is to accept that advice, it’s the only sane choice.

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I love this feature. Great advice. 🙏🥰

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