Shadows of the Holocaust

  In midlife - after parents die, children leave, careers plateau - some people do an emotional audit. Many find that the facts of their lives have not changed, but they often find the meaning has changed. Such an awakening prompts a reorganization of relationships, purpose, and identity,  

My dear friend Jürgen Flügge continues to tell the story of our mothers' deep friendship. His mother, Mina, lived with my mother's family, the Westerfelds, for several years during the 1930s. During the Great Depression, Mina's family in Stockstadt am Rhein couldn't afford to feed all of their children, so her parents asked my grandparents if their 15-year-old could do chores in exchange for room and board. Mina became much ...

Parents on social media find they aren't alone: "It's a pain you can't describe!"  

Fern, I just read your article 'How Narcissism Can Lead to Sibling Estrangement', and I recognised every single description. This is not a surprise to me, since I've struggled with 'sibling estrangement' for nearly two decades. And she's my only one... (adding to a deep-rooted sense of self-blame). A turning point in my life was when I broke the news of my pregnancy with my sister (and of course, she'd ...

In an essay called "An Awkward Kind of Grief," Patti Davis, the daughter of President Ronald Reagan, reflected upon the recent death of her half-brother, Michael Reagan—someone she barely knew. The two had the same father, but a strained and distant relationship. Patti’s mother, Nancy Reagan, kept the children from her husband’s first marriage at arm’s length from the children she shared with Reagan. As adults, half-siblings Michael and Patti ...

Sibling estrangement is not just about not talking to your brother or sister. It has much broader ramifications, as sibling rejection can profoundly shape an individual's personality and their roles in the family. Many estranged people who have experienced rejection from family members struggle to trust.

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Local news article about the Kristallnacht ceremony in Münzenberg. Here is the translation: No "one-size-fits-all" approach: This year's commemoration by the town of Münzenberg and the Friends of Münzenberg Castle and Town was anything but an automated, perfunctory event. The focus this year was on the eventful life of Gerda Katz, a resident of Münzenberg who had to flee the Nazis in 1938 – a commemoration poised between hope, loss, ...

Becoming estranged from a sibling can be devastating, even when it also brings a sense of relief. Here's why it happens, and whether you should reconcile—or not.  

One of the most frequent risk factors for sibling estrangement is a family member who has narcissistic personality  traits. That person may not be diagnosed with the full-blown disorder; they may simply display some of the characteristics.