Laura Wellington
ON THE RECORD · 10 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“They don’t want to fight every battle, because if they fight every battle, then communication breaks down. So they try to pick and choose.”
Laura Wellington · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-29
Wellington explained that parents try to pick and choose battles to avoid communication breakdown.
“It’s confusing to the parent because, a lot of times, they look like the general signs of a teenager moving into the young-adult zone — just pulling away and going off and establishing their lives,”
Laura Wellington · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-29
Wellington said it can be challenging to distinguish early signs of estrangement from typical moves toward independence.
“A lot of times, they look like the general signs of a teenager moving into the young-adult zone.”
Laura Wellington · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-29
Wellington noted that estrangement signs can resemble a teenager transitioning into young adulthood.
“They become the authority; they flip it. Anytime you say something, you’ll see them bark at the parent and push back on the parent. They really have no respect for the parent.”
Laura Wellington · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-29
Wellington said some adult children flip the dynamic and treat parents with disrespect.
“I know everything, you know nothing”
Laura Wellington · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-29
Wellington identified an 'I know everything, you know nothing' mindset as a warning sign of estrangement.
“There's no respect for what the parents experience. There's no tolerance for them speaking up and saying, ‘No, this is not what you should be doing.’”
Laura Wellington · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-29
Wellington said there is often no respect or tolerance for parents speaking up.
“That’s what I think confuses many parents, because they want to give them the space to start pulling away and showing signs of their own individuality and carving their path.”
Laura Wellington · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-29
Wellington described why parents may be confused by signs that look like normal moves toward independence.
“What's happening in our society today is … a lot of ‘I know everything, you know nothing’ toward the parent,”
Laura Wellington · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-29
Wellington said a lot of 'I know everything, you know nothing' attitudes are directed toward parents today.
“more liberal in thinking,”
Laura Wellington · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-29
Wellington suggested some estranged young people are more liberal in thinking.
“There is extremism sometimes where the parent is extremely something, and then the child … goes the other way,”
Laura Wellington · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-29
Wellington noted that extremism in a parent's views can push a child in the opposite direction.