I would never close that door and say there is no way back, it would depend on many factors, which we have discussed.
The age of EC, Control etc. If they are truly sorry after how ever many years, who could turn their back, I couldn't. The point is we have all been estranged because they went no contact as they saw no other way of dealing with whatever problems they had. I have told you about my best friend, whom I loved, but she was not a good mil, she turned up unannounced once, after the son and wife had worked all day, once let herself in with the key she had when they went on holiday and had held on to, she went in their cupboards, baked sons favourite chocolate cake, put a meal in the oven and did their ironing. Dil was furious, when son mentioned it his mom, she went ballistic, calling Dil selfish and controlling, friend just saw it as saving them a lot of work. She couldn't see she was in the wrong. War broke out, Dil demanded key back and they were estranged until the day my friend died, who was broken hearted but still maintained she had done nothing wrong. My friends sons marriage eventually broke down, his wife had the children, she used to go round to the house demanding to see her grandchildren, she had a right she said, she cried so many tears... My friend would do anything for everyone, her door was always open, yet she couldn't see the view that Dil found her interfering and opinionated. Couldn't and wouldn't apologise if she was in the right. She would take on any cause and fight to the end and I admired that, still miss her.
I know at times I must have done something wrong, which I was ignorant of, perhaps I too hadn't listened. I tend to back off from confrontation, I am more worried about interfering. We could not have deep conversations, I tried many times to find out where I had gone wrong, it was met either with tight lips, saying nothing or anger telling me to butt out. Which I did, after years of it. I have missed so much like all of you on here. There are reasons for estrangement, as there are reasons for being kept in the dark about those reasons. I think there comes a time, when you let go. Not that you don't care but it is so pointless flogging a dead horse. It will never change until they instigate it. Those of you with partners or another child have something else to focus on. The child that does care and their children, although as grandchildren get older you don't get to see them often anyway. I am just a small part of their lives, but a loved one.