I’ve got the opposite problem: that my parents don’t affect my life in the slightest anymore, and they generally don’t reach out, and go super long periods of no contact. My mom hasn’t even set foot in my house, ever. My dad will try to make plans and then never ever follow through cause he’d rather work twelve-hour shifts in a factory at the age of 73. A little voice in the back of my head reminds me I’ll never be grounded again, but… it’s sad about that? My home is messier than I’d like but cleaner than theirs.

I’m six weeks shy of 40. I’m also a trans woman, and I think that’s a contributing factor too.