ABSTRACT
Sibling relationships have historically been overlooked in estrangement research. And yet, these long-lasting relationships can have a profound effect on individuals’ development as children and can affect their relationships as adults. Guided by Family Communication Patterns, which help explain how much a family communicates and how a family handles conflict, this chapter seeks to provide a deeper understanding of how siblings arrive at an estranged relationship. Rather than writing about estrangement from an abstract view, the author uses autoethnographic, first-person, reflexive stories to demonstrate how she became estranged from her sibling. The goal in providing these stories is to eliminate the societal expectation of remaining in a familial relationship even when toxic. Ultimately, societal norms must evolve into acceptance of individuals estranged from family.
