Dear Carolyn: Im 32, married with a great wife and a 2-year-old son, and my life is pretty good except for my so-called father. He left me and my mom alone when I was just a baby and she struggled to raise me and make ends meet our whole lives. I think the hard life wore her out and was one reason she died of cancer at age 41.
My dad has been contacting me recently, apologizing for ghosting us and wanting to meet me and my family. I think he realizes he burned a lot of bridges and is facing a lonely old age. Its too little too late if you ask me, but my wife is encouraging me to give him a chance, pointing out that I really dont know his side of the story and dont have much other family.
What side of the story could explain away leaving a 17-year-old girl alone with a baby, never calling, never visiting, never a penny of child support?