I have so much I want to say—but let me begin by saying: you wrote such a moving, raw—authentic essay…it speaks volumes to the ties to our biological parents that for some remain a tie to be twisted and examined and understood….

Moments ago I read a journal I wrote on my phone…it was in reflection to many stories I read on Medium of writers who have been angry at parents. I gather from my journal I was feeling saddened, frustrated —knowing that some decisions I’ve made as a parent weren’t “popular” with my children…and it made me wonder what layers of anger and bitterness they could share in the future. I journaled how complex it all is—the why we do what we do as parents…the baggage we each bring and the complexities of our own upbringings.

So your conclusion touched me…there’s a wisdom, a love—to accepting that there’s more to him that you simply do not know. And I love that you acknowledge the pain and know it doesn’t make you less—it just is.

I trust/hope/believe this piece can speak to the hearts of many who also still wrestle with an absent parent and what healing can look like.

Thanks for teaching us…I’m so sorry for the pain—thanks for trusting us with your story. 💙💙💙