Dear Maura. I am late in reading this, but it is a piece of wisdom for the ages. I too had a lot of resentment as a teenager and young man toward my father, but what he didn't do for his wife and children was minimal compared to what he missed out on. Seeing our parents' lives from the inside out rather than just from a child's perspective is a sign of maturity.
Dear Maura: whenever I am tempted to point a finger and cast aspersions I will remember this tender hearted story and think twice about voicing a negative thought about someone. What a lucky Dad your Father was!
Beautiful. I’m glad you finally got to see another side to your father. As flawed and complicated and even hurtful as they can be, fathers always love their daughters.
Tim, I would like to think so. My Dad, most of all, was capable of self-reflection and had a conscience. It saved our relationship but it made him feel really guilty - justifiably so, I’m afraid. Still, now I can see the gifts he passed onto me. Thank you for reading!
I know you miss your dad, Bill (and he was a towering personality!). But you were blessed to have your parents a lot longer than I had mine. I had lost both by the time I was 30. We were both lucky to have them.
Dear Maura. I am late in reading this, but it is a piece of wisdom for the ages. I too had a lot of resentment as a teenager and young man toward my father, but what he didn't do for his wife and children was minimal compared to what he missed out on. Seeing our parents' lives from the inside out rather than just from a child's perspective is a sign of maturity.
Thank you, Jim. And I am loving your posts about living with a 100-year-old! What a journey!
What a beautiful story, thank you for sharing with us.
Well done. Truth, love, and wisdom. A great Father’s Day tribute.
He made mistakes, we all do. But love is a wonderful bandaid.
The end of the story is a great memory and nice tribute.
Such a touching story Maura💕
ThNk you, Maura. Your honest, clear writing is an inspiration to me. Happy Father’s Day!
Same to you, friend!
Beautiful.
So beautifully written. 🥹
A wonderfully thoughtful tribute to those complicated people we call parents. Bravo. 🥳
Thank you, Kate. They are mighty complicated, aren’t they?
The best of us are! :)
Dear Maura: whenever I am tempted to point a finger and cast aspersions I will remember this tender hearted story and think twice about voicing a negative thought about someone. What a lucky Dad your Father was!
Oh, thank you, Sheila, that means so much to me!
Beautiful. I’m glad you finally got to see another side to your father. As flawed and complicated and even hurtful as they can be, fathers always love their daughters.
Tim, I would like to think so. My Dad, most of all, was capable of self-reflection and had a conscience. It saved our relationship but it made him feel really guilty - justifiably so, I’m afraid. Still, now I can see the gifts he passed onto me. Thank you for reading!
There's so much in this column -- love and stories and forgiveness of ourselves and others. Beautifully told, Maura.
A beautiful, moving story, Maura.
I know you miss your dad, Bill (and he was a towering personality!). But you were blessed to have your parents a lot longer than I had mine. I had lost both by the time I was 30. We were both lucky to have them.