Broken Trust, Broken Lives
Trust is a fragile thing, and once broken, it is difficult to put back together again. This can be especially true when trust is broken in a family. Families who cannot trust each other often find themselves estranged, cut off, and unable to find any peace.
Take a family of five siblings, two parents, and a grandmother. All of them love each other, but the trust between them has been broken, and the entire family is suffering because of it.
The grandmother, who was once considered the matriarch of the family, has become withdrawn and isolated. She rarely speaks, even to her children and grandchildren, and will not let them in her home. As a result, she has grown distant and uncommunicative.
The father of the family is a troubled man. He has had a difficult past, and he often takes out his frustration and anger on his wife and children. He will often shut himself away for hours or even days, refusing to talk to anyone. He resorts to drinking to help cope with his own mounting personal and financial problems.
The mother of the family has been trying to keep it together. She works hard to provide for her family, but her efforts seem futile. She often appears worn out and exhausted from having to act as both father and mother in the home.
The siblings find themselves in an unenviable situation. They strive to please their father, yet they can never do it perfectly. As they do not feel secure in their home, they start to distance themselves from their parents. They become more independent, shying away from familial responsibilities and obligations.
None of the members of this family can trust each other. They feel as if they must hide their true selves just to avoid further conflict. As they drift farther apart, they begin to build walls around their hearts and minds to protect themselves from more pain. The situation only grows worse as the days pass.
Broken trust can wreak havoc on a family. Without trust in each other, communication can become strained and relationships suffer. It can take time, patience, and hard work to repair broken trust in a family, but it can be done. With the help of a counselor, each family member can learn to communicate better, rebuild damaged relationships, and put the trust back into the family again.
