Thank you for your wise words, Smileless and your good wishes. In return, I hope that your estrangement comes to an end someday. Perhaps not with dil but, as you say, with ds and the gc (getting to spend time with them, if only occasionally).
Celebgran, just as you told Yogagirl not to blame herself, you shouldn't accuse yourself of not having " taught my daughter any decency of compassion." I'm sure you did, but, somehow, other factors have gotten in the way.
Debbi, are you suggesting that a dil can undo what a ds was taught and make him less "decent and compassionate?" After all the years of loving and raising him? Chilling thought!
Do you think it could be the same for sils and dds? I'm fortunate, I guess, in that I have a lovely (most of the time) dd and sil. But still, another chilling thought!
(((Hugs))) Luckylegs!