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Nelson and Crystal McDaniel have been married for 23 years and face the challenge of being estranged from their daughter Rachel after a strained conversation that Crystal had with her in September of 2023. This event has propelled them on a spiritual journey of walking closer to God, leaning on their faith in Jesus, and using therapeutic tools to heal and grow. Despite the challenges they face, Nelson and Crystal remain committed to their family and their faith.


Estrangement and the Pit of Despair: Climbing Out One Step at a Time
The Pit of Despair, from the Movie, "The Princess Bride." The beginning of the description of what is going to happen to Wesley, in the...
Crystal McDaniel
Jul 193 min read


Reshaped by Fire: Estrangement and the New Terrain After Mount St. Helens
Before, After, and Today...Mount St. Helen, the terrain change after the explosion, and the beauty that has come afterwards When Mount...
Crystal McDaniel
Jul 175 min read


Search Me, O God: Owning My Role in Estrangement
Inspirational Scripture with a Heart, This photo is the very description of what this blog is about. Search Me, O God: Owning My Role in...
Crystal McDaniel
Jul 136 min read


Estrangement and the Heart’s Tug-of-War: How to Feel Without Falling Apart
Two People Pull a rope in the opposite direction. A Tug-O-War Being estranged from my adult child has created a pain unlike anything...
Crystal McDaniel
Jul 105 min read


Solo Stages: Finding My Voice and My Independence Through Estrangement and Travel
This is an image of stale bread, and it represent estrangement and staying in the past. The Power of Distance I boarded the plane to...
Crystal McDaniel
Jul 36 min read


Estrangement and the Stage: Healing One Song at a Time in Italy
My group of singer friends after our first show There’s something about standing on a stage in a foreign land, singing your heart out,...
Crystal McDaniel
Jun 304 min read


Estrangement and Resilience: When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Go to ItalyBlog Post:
Estrangement is a word that carries so much weight, yet often floats around in whispers. For many of us, it’s a quiet grief we carry in...
Crystal McDaniel
Jun 183 min read


🕊️ What Estrangement Feels Like: It’s Not Just "Empty Nest"
Empty bird's nest with a "Vacant" note, symbolizing an open house in nature. I think people try to relate by comparing estrangement to...
Crystal McDaniel
Jun 114 min read


Estrangement & the Question We’re Afraid to Ask: Is It OK Not to Like My Estranged Daughter?
This is image is the perfect description of what I go through during this estrangement. By Crystal McDaniel | Strangely Estranged ...
Crystal McDaniel
May 224 min read


🛣️ Estrangement: The Two-Way Street Where Someone Always Thinks They Have the Right of Way
Estrangement...My Car is moving forward into an unknown area. 🚗 When You’re the Mom in the Passenger Seat of Estrangement I never...
Crystal McDaniel
May 193 min read


Surviving Estrangement, Seizures, and Starting a Dog Fashion Empire (in Jeans That Fit and a Sunflower Shirt)
Estrangement will never stop a really cute T-Shirt with a Sunflower Let’s be honest: estrangement isn’t just a word—it’s a season.A...
Crystal McDaniel
May 163 min read


Estranged… But Still Petting Dogs: The ADA Paws Pass Chronicles"From Panic to Purpose at the Mrs. Tennessee America Pageant
The Front of the T-Shirts for ADA Paws Pass by Crystal You know those moments where everything’s going great, and then, out of nowhere,...
Crystal McDaniel
May 55 min read


Rising Through Estrangement: Competing With a Broken Heart
Estrangement and Rising Anyway I’m preparing to compete for the title of Mrs. Tennessee America this Saturday , and while the crown...
Crystal McDaniel
Apr 233 min read


"These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things"...(During Estrangement With Our Adult Daughter)
Big and Me Estrangement with our adult daughter is draining. Nelson and I have to do a lot to refill our mental, emotional, and physical...
Crystal McDaniel
Apr 147 min read


Letting Go and Finding Peace And Forgiveness During Estrangement
Parenting comes with many unexpected challenges, but nothing quite prepares you for the pain of estrangement from your own child....
Crystal McDaniel
Apr 23 min read


Coping with Estrangement: Healing from Unrecognized Grief
I never imagined I would find myself here—mourning the living. Estrangement is a grief unlike any other, a silent ache that the world...
Crystal McDaniel
Apr 13 min read


Understanding Adult Child Estrangement: Seeing Their Perspective Through Research And Insight.
Learn why it happens and how to navigate it with empathy.
Crystal McDaniel
Mar 312 min read


I Received Some Good News...(From A Friend)
Over the weekend, I received some good news from a very close friend. He and his wife were also going through an estrangement with their...
Crystal McDaniel
Mar 304 min read


Today Is A Special Day
30 years ago, today, I gave birth to my twin daughters. All of my pregnancies were very difficult. My first child, my son, died. He...
Crystal McDaniel
Mar 263 min read


More Than Survive
For so long, Nelson and I lived in survival mode. We did not nurture ourselves at all. We were just trying to keep our heads above...
Crystal McDaniel
Mar 245 min read
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