Are you struggling to repair the bond with your brother or sister? Drew brings on Dr. Matthew Breuninger, Catholic father, psychologist, and therapist, to unpack the world of sibling relationships.

Drew points out how shockingly common estrangement is among adult siblings. 1 in 3 of us has gone through it at some point.

Dr. Matthew Breuninger says: “The reason why siblings are estranged can be due to a variety of factors."

-Old rivalries 

-Hurt feelings nobody talks about

-Who got what when mom died 

-Religion and politics

-And just plain taking each other for granted

“You Have to Nurture the Relationship”

Breuninger makes a really solid (and convicting) point:
We put in tons of effort to keep up with our friends, but we act like siblings are just automatically supposed to stay close forever. It doesn’t work that way.

He says parents should intentionally teach their kids how to be friends, not just roommates who grew up in the same house. Things like:

-Making them repair fights, not just brush it off

-Encouraging them to ask each other real questions

-Creating chances to hang out and bond 

Love doesn’t grow unless you water it, even in families.

Ryan (from Arizona)

He went through a painful divorce and now feels like his brother (and sister-in-law) have shut him out. He’s Catholic; they’re not. He feels like he’s being judged for being “too religious.” 

Breuninger gives this gentle but bold advice:

-Ask for a one-on-one conversation.

-Use “I feel” language, not “You did” accusations.

-Be honest: “I miss you.”

-Acknowledge the awkwardness and let them talk too. Even if you don’t share faith, you can still have fun together.

Angie (from Utah)

Her husband and his brother haven’t spoken in 3 years. His brother converted to Judaism and things got heated when her husband tried to evangelize... a little too aggressively. 

Breuninger’s take:

-Be Catholic, but don’t weaponize it.

-It's okay to stand firm in truth, but don’t forget humility and love.

-Even if you’re only 2% at fault in the argument, own 100% of that 2%.

-Start small. Send a letter. Share a memory. Remind them what you used to have together.

He says you can reawaken love with shared stories. 

Hurt Happens, But Healing Is Possible

Relationships get messy. People grow, change, argue, drift. But the pain isn’t the final chapter. You can be the one who reaches out. You can choose humility and vulnerability.

Give God some room to work, and don’t be afraid to go first.

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.

Are you struggling to repair the bond with your brother or sister?&nbsp;Drew brings on&nbsp;Dr. Matthew Breuninger, Catholic father, psychologist, and therapist, to unpack the world of&nbsp;sibling relationships.
<hr>
Drew points out how&nbsp;shockingly common estrangement is among adult siblings. 1 in 3 of us has gone through it at some point.
Dr. Matthew Breuninger says: &ldquo;The reason why siblings are estranged can be due to a variety of factors."
-Old rivalries&nbsp;
-Hurt feelings nobody talks about
-Who got what when mom died&nbsp;
-Religion and politics
-And just plain taking each other for granted
<hr data-start="1113" data-end="1116">
&ldquo;You Have to&nbsp;Nurture the Relationship&rdquo;
Breuninger makes a really solid (and convicting) point: We put in tons of effort to keep up with our friends, but we act like siblings are just automatically supposed to stay close forever.&nbsp;It doesn&rsquo;t work that way.
He says parents should intentionally teach their kids how to be friends, not just roommates who grew up in the same house. Things like:
-Making them repair fights, not just brush it off
-Encouraging them to ask each other real questions
-Creating chances to hang out and bond&nbsp;
Love doesn&rsquo;t grow unless you water it, even in families.
<hr data-start="1833" data-end="1836">
Ryan (from Arizona)
He went through a painful divorce and now feels like his brother (and sister-in-law) have shut him out. He&rsquo;s Catholic; they&rsquo;re not. He feels like he&rsquo;s being judged for being &ldquo;too religious.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Breuninger gives this gentle but bold advice:
-Ask for a one-on-one conversation.
-Use &ldquo;I feel&rdquo; language, not &ldquo;You did&rdquo; accusations.
-Be honest: &ldquo;I miss you.&rdquo;
-Acknowledge the awkwardness and let them talk too. Even if you don&rsquo;t share faith, you can still have fun together.
<hr data-start="2564" data-end="2567">
Angie (from Utah)
Her husband and his brother haven&rsquo;t spoken in 3 years. His brother converted to Judaism and things got heated when her husband tried to evangelize... a little too aggressively.&nbsp;
Breuninger&rsquo;s take:
-Be Catholic, but don&rsquo;t weaponize it.
-It's okay to stand firm in truth, but don&rsquo;t forget humility and love.
-Even if you&rsquo;re only 2% at fault in the argument, own 100% of that 2%.
-Start small. Send a letter. Share a memory. Remind them what you used to have together.
He says you can reawaken love with shared stories.&nbsp;
<hr data-start="3327" data-end="3330">
Hurt Happens, But Healing Is Possible
Relationships get messy. People grow, change, argue, drift. But the pain isn&rsquo;t the final chapter. You can be the one who reaches out. You can choose humility and vulnerability.
Give God some room to work, and don&rsquo;t be afraid to go first.
<hr>
The&nbsp;best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It&rsquo;s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out&nbsp;<a href="https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/">here</a>.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.

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