> Sometimes forgiveness and acceptance is the best medicine.

Sometimes it's not. I don't wish ill of my mother even at this point, hopefully she's happy over in Holland with her new life. And I would certainly never deign to tell your grandmother what she should do, I'm assuming she maintained contact because she had good reasons to.

But I have kids of my own to think about, a wife of my own, and a very short life of my own to live, so I'm not going to waste a minute of it worrying about someone who could not reciprocate in kind. I stress myself enough worrying about the people who do care for me.

If my kids still respect me when they grow up I want it to be because I demonstrated a reason to earn their respect, not because I guilt-tripped them into feeling they have to live up to some familial bond which society imposes upon them.

Edit: I did end up calling my stepmother earlier today as well. Pays to stay involved, I guess.

I wasn't suggesting you call your mother, just adding another side to a similar story.

Mother's day is almost over now, thank goodness!