“Quiet quitting” is usually used to describe doing only the minimum at work, but the idea can also apply to family life. In the report, the term is extended to the relationship some people have with their mother: staying connected, but with less emotional strain, fewer obligations, and more room to breathe. That can matter for practical reasons as well as personal ones. A mom may be tied to finances, health insurance, cultural connection, or other family relationships, making a full break unrealistic or undesirable.
In this context, going low-contact simply means reducing communication and interaction without ending the relationship. There is no official definition, according to therapist Whitney Goodman, LMFT. For some people, that might mean skipping one-on-one visits but still texting or emailing. For others, it could mean occasional phone calls, greeting cards, or seeing each other in person while keeping conversations surface-level. The right amount of distance depends on what the relationship feels like and how much contact leaves someone drained.
The report says the first step is to think about how a mother has handled boundaries in the past. If earlier limits were respected, it may be possible to make smaller adjustments. If those boundaries were ignored, stronger limits may be needed. From there, the goal is to decide which forms of contact are most exhausting and experiment with reducing them. That could mean pausing before answering texts, replying less often, or cutting out drop-in visits. The article also notes that there is no requirement to make a formal announcement. If sharing the change would be safe and useful, a heads-up may help; if not, someone can quietly reduce contact by changing what they share and how often they engage.
Source: self.com
