"Having a relationship with a little kid under 11 or 12 is easy because they have yet to figure out that you're not as cool or interesting as their friends. A relationship with someone over 23 or so is fulfilling in a whole new way because they're beginning to share your adult perspective on the world and embrace social graces like checking in on others."
"My husband and I have bent over backwards trying to stay in touch with Sean after the divorce. We called, texted, and sent gifts. We live out of state, so seeing both our grandchildren is hard. Sean rarely responds to any calls, and his mother will not even tell us if he likes the gifts we send him, let alone make him say thank you. My son just shrugs and says that is the nature of divorce, and we are setting ourselves up for failure."
A 15-year-old stepson has withdrawn from his former step-grandparents after his parents' divorce. The grandparents have repeatedly called, texted, and sent gifts while living out of state, yet receive minimal responses. The boy's mother does not relay his reactions and the biological son believes disengagement follows divorce. The grandparents remain emotionally hurt and have discussed removing the stepson from their will. Relationships with children under 11 are easier, and relationships with adults over 23 can be more fulfilling; relationships with adolescents often require persistent pushing and yield little reciprocity due to age-appropriate self-absorption.
Read at Slate Magazine
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