I don't feel isolated or alone thanks to my wonderful husband and supportive family and friends.
We have been estranged from our youngest son and only grandchildren for just over 7 years. We have never seen the youngest and the last time we saw the eldest he was just 8 months old.
It was when I accepted that this was something that we were not responsible for and something that we couldn't change, that I and I believe my husband too began to cope with our loss.
I've found support here on GN and on 2 other online sites which were specifically for estranged parents. One of these was particularly good but eventually folded, the other I found could be too inward looking with little being done or encouraged to find ways of moving on.
In the first 2 to 3 years I read quite a lot which for a time proved very helpful a when it happens to you, you think you're the only one, that it must be something you've done wrong because 'adult children don't estrange kind, caring, loving and supportive parents'.
The best support comes from those who share the experience of estrangement and anyone whether they're estranged or not who listens, believes what you say and doesn't judge.
Another silly little ABC game - shops we have loved and lost?
What is a reasonable minimum spend for an online grocery delivery??