Peacelily, I am so moved by your post, I find it unimaginable any mother treating a child you as you were. You have survived and are a lovely person ? I feel ashamed that a mother could do that.
Swallowsong, you’re post is all about how you feel. You say things back then were different, well I’m not too far back from your age, if anyone had once treated my girl like that, I would have died protecting her, I mean that. You let her be abused, stood by and let it happen, and yet that wonderful forgiving woman, your daughter you let down, has helped you and not given up on you. How she can have a relationship with you I don’t know but she tries, yet you’re still putting your feelings first.
My eyes fill with tears at what Peacelily and your daughter went through. I am estranged from my d, whom I love very much, always will but we can never be together, but at least my conscience is clear as I know I loved and put her first, I just wanted her happy.
If you have any conscience do something. I wish in a way I had not read your post.