Mrs. Astor’s Neglect by Son- The Dysfunctional Family

The normal family is the hand grenade compared to the nuclear blast of the dysfunctional family when faced with aging parent being dependent. Dysfunctional families have many characteristics. They lack the ability to resolve conflicts and have frequent psychosocial blockages that prevent the family from growing emotionally.

Most life transitions in the family, like birth, adolescence and marriage have been botched, by a lack of support from the parents. The parental figures are usually not in charge, able to nurture or to establish establishes clear rules. There are foggy roles for everyone in the family .The chief role of the parent reduces to a miserable leadership and crippled ability to nurture the children. The family members and future adult children generally do not believe the parent is there for them and can be depended upon.

The dysfunctional family is colored by strained relationships and unresolved conflicts.

Decades later when faced with the dependence of this failed and flawed aging parent, the injured adult child has no idea how to build a loving nest for the disabled Mom or Dad. They have no inclination to even take the steps to care for them. Take the famous case of storied Mrs. Astor who’s unnurtured son, despite inheriting millions, neglected her so badly he went to prison.