Reply To: Parent of OTD child

Thank you, Lightbrite. Your observations are on target – and I am still hoping that this can be a meaningful, helpful, SUPPORTIVE discussion for those of us who are going through this.

I read something recently that was quite striking: in earlier days, parents would sit shiva for a such a child, the reason being that THERE WAS NO HOPE THAT THEY WOULD RETURN. Today, many if not most try to maintain a loving relationship “because” there is a chance they will return (just quoting the source); I would be lying if I said I wasn’t hoping s/he would find the way back to Judaism but I continue to love my adult child as much as ever regardless of the choices s/he makes.