When it comes to my father’s side of the family , I always wondered why mine of them ever showed any interest in my sisters and I. I suppose they all had their own burdens to bear. From what I understand, my paternal grandmother died when they were younger and they were raised by their father…it sounds like there was a history of abuse with that generation too.
As far as forgiveness is concerned…I have been wronged by my husband’s ex and to a certain extent, her parents . I took care of his daughter when her own mother didn’t . I gave her stability when she didn’t have it from her own mother. I took care of her the same way I did my own daughters.
There was a time when step-daugher’s own parents wanted her to be removed from the care of their daughter. I have carried the things they told me ( that would have easily raised red flags and possibly had DYFS intervene which might have resulted in her being removed from mom’s care )
Twenty odd years later, I have been kind to the woman when she is on her death bed. In some ways, done more for her than her closest relatives. She asked me into her home and I actually got an apology from her and she expressed her gratitude for what I have done for her in the last couple of months…odd how things work out sometimes