It's hard for me to understand this mass estrangement because I had wonderful parents. They made some mistakes that were hurtful, but it was always clear to me that they loved me and were doing their best. We were raised to be independent. Our parents didn't want or expect us to dance in attendance on them as they got older. Not everyone is so lucky. I do think we should try to overcome difficulties and value differences with close family members if at all possible. My mother-in-law could be a difficult person to live with, but bringing her into our home in her last years was a good thing. Our son benefited from her presence and we worked out some issues that otherwise would have gone unresolved. We all learned a lot and became better because of it. I know this isn't possible for everyone but if there's room for love and forgiveness, it's worth the effort.