A World Without Repercussions

“Ultimately there are people who want to live, not in a world of reconciliation, but in a world without repercussions… ,,, It takes a lot to “cut a parent (or a sibling) off.” Usually it’s a question of safety, whether psychological or physical. And even then (and here I’ll speak from personal experience) we keep trying beyond when it’s maybe in our best interest. We take just a little bit more abuse in the hope that there’s a breakthrough. We let them demean us just a little bit more because we’re just a little bit jealous of our friends who still happily spend Thanksgiving with their parents. Until one day we don’t. —Mike Monteiro, “How to cut off your parents.” August 20, 2026. Estrangement is a perennial topic.