Father's family values result in estrangement
You modeled completely appropriate fatherly mentoring.
Most parents and teens have to make up and eventually work things out because the teen needs something from the parent: i.e. a ride to soccer practice. The difference in your household is that your son doesn't live with you, and his other parent is furthering (possibly actively encouraging) this estrangement.
Express an interest in your son's life and activities, and keep your door open without condition. Once he is out of his mother's household, his perspective should shift.
Dear Amy: I had been married for 42 years. During my marriage, I lived close to my best friend.
My friend and I talked on the phone a couple times a week. She mostly complained about her life, and couldn't seem to find the time to ever meet me in person to do anything social.
Long story short, I ended my marriage, moved to another town, and now have a boyfriend.
I hadn't phoned her in a long time because of all my life changes, etc., so she abruptly "unfriended" me on Facebook and cut off all communication.
Now I hear that her mother is gravely ill.
Should I reach out when her mother passes, or let things stay as they are, which is apparently the way she wants it?
-- Unfriend
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