PROBLEMS
ask ALAN JOHNSON
The former Home Secretary uses his wisdom, wit and experience to tackle the problems troubling you
Q After leaving home, my siblings and I always met regularly at my parents' house. But since my widowed mother's death last year, I feel like the heart has gone out of my family. Neither myself nor my two siblings has a big enough house to host a celebration, and I feel like I always do the running when we meet up. Do I have to accept that, sadly, our bond died with our parents?
O'\
Given that your mother was so centralto the happiness of your family, it should be no surprise to find that her death has left a huge hole in your lives. You say, 'the heart has gone out of my family' and I think that's a lovely way of putting it.