Ever since his marriage, he has moved further and further apart from us, participating in family rituals — birthdays, holidays, etc. I want to have him in my life but I also accept it if he does not want to be. In general, by your account, you’ve adopted a forgiveness-based attitude toward your family where no shortage of people turn combative instead. But people also choose partners who help them act on their own impulses to distance from family. It’s not a subtle distinction; the former makes it the wife’s idea, and the latter your brother’s.

Source: Washington Post December 18, 2020 04:52 UTC