We didn’t want to upset mom, so we avoided asking her what she wanted as her illness progressed. We ended up arguing constantly and we are still cold and angry about it two years later.

The tendency in many families is to try to protect one another by avoiding frank conversations. This can leave all involved feeling isolated and that their feelings and concerns are not heard or understood. Avoiding what needs to be said can take a lot of emotional energy. Expressing ourselves to one another can help keep bad feelings from festering, and going through tough times together can help family members feel more connected to one another.