It's hard living life with regrets. It sounds like he has made the first move towards reconciling - you could return in kind if you feel like doing so. It might not work out, but then again it might. As for trusting your children's safety with your father, I don't know why you would if he abused you growing up. He might not, but I guess I would not assume he would not hurt them.
I've been told that one of my grandfathers was a very mean person, but all I have are good memories of him. Though he died of cancer when I was only 6, so I didn't know him well. Age often mellows a person and makes them look hard at what they have done in life. Perhaps he regrets what he did to you? DB's father beat him up frequently when he was young - until one day DB beat him up, then his father realized he couldn't do that anymore. DB had a horrible relationship with his father when he was young, but now they get along very well.
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