Visiting your parents and siblings

Fenix

Visiting your parents I hear is difficult for many people. Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche comments on this and Pema Chodron teaches that, "visit your parents for only short times, 2 min". Although Eckhart Tolle also teaches be home for short periods, he tells to be an hour. While the details of the teaching may not be relevant there is a question I want to ask.

What if you dont have old enough siblings that cant meet you independently. I want to see my little sister more often, but my parents drive me crazy

Cosmic_Castaway

I would advise patience. She will be old enough to make her own decisions soon enough. Whats even a few years compared to the span of a lifetime?

Random

As you said you can't meet her independently. Maybe short visits that focus on just her, since if they're short visits your parents may butt-out so you actually get some time with your sister.

vixthenomad

How old's your sister? Is your living situation such that she could come and stay occasionally?

Fenix

@vixthenomad

Shes 12 years old. I live in a small apartment a few kilometers away. She could come over if my parents allowed it. what would we do?

Mountains

I live a 12 hour drive away from my parents, so when I see them, it's of necessity for days at a time. As I've gotten older it's a little easier to take, and I appreciate them more as they've gotten older (they're in their late 70s).

I love Ram Dass's quote: "If you think you're so enlightened, spend some time with your parents."

Fenix

@Mountains

I wonder did Buddha struggle with his parents

aMatt

Shes 12 years old. I live in a small apartment a few kilometers away. She could come over if my parents allowed it. what would we do?

Board games work well, let her win.

When you are with your parents, do you feel old patterns coming back? Perhaps you could cultivate metta for them prior to seeing them. Its difficult sometimes to accept them, and the sense that arrives in us when we are with them. I agree with mountains, that time and age helps that.

Ada_B

Why not share an activity together, like go see a Harry Potter movie or something (you'd need patience for that - I fell asleep!)? Or go bowling, or skating, or visit a museum? With 12 year olds, it can often be easier to go on an outing than sit around a house getting bored.