Asking Eric: Should I resume contact with my estranged father?

R. Eric Thomas provides guidance on navigating complex paternal dynamics. Individuals are questioning whether to resume contact with estranged fathers or invest effort into surface-level relationships. Some struggle with one-sided connections, weighing the desire for connection against the need for personal peace. Others face emotionally distant fathers who are uninterested in changing, leading to anxiety during brief visits. These scenarios highlight the internal conflict between familial duty and maintaining mental well-being when dealing with distant parents.