The Guardian Weekly

Should I contact my father who was often angry and drunk?

Annalisa Barbieri If you would like advice on a family matter, email ask.annalisa@ theguardian.com. See gu.com/lettersterms for terms and conditions

My dad is in his 70s and has contacted me on Facebook. I have not yet replied. I last spoke to him almost 20 years ago, shortly after my mum died. I was 17, and he was angry with me for ignoring him. In my early childhood my dad lived with us only briefly, but was often drunk and angry, and I heard stories of him hitting my mum.

My mum left him when I was four and I saw him again when I was eight, when I was expected to keep him company; if I didn’t he would go to the pub and get very drunk. One time I went to play with my friends, and when I came home he was so drunk he hit my mum and threw my dog against a painting. That day I decided I hated my dad, and he never came to visit again.

Despite this, I always felt he got me in a way my mum did not. We are very similar: we like maths and puzzles and I got my love of walking from him. But he has a temper, and I had to be careful. He never made me feel safe.

I now have children, a home and a career – my life is stable. I had years of serious mental health issues after my mum’s death. I have thought about reaching out to my dad several times. I know I owe this man nothing but I do not want to live a life of regret or guilt. Should I reply?

Your longer letter described some incredible adversities you’ve overcome: your violent father, your mother dying when you were so young (I’m so sorry about that), having to look after your mother’s business while still a teen. You’ve earned your “stable life” so I’d be wary of rocking that. You’ve thought about contacting your dad before but haven’t, probably because you remember what he was like. And you haven’t replied yet for the same reason. The first thing to think about is what you hope to achieve. Children are endlessly forgiving of their parents and hopeful that they will change.

Psychotherapist Katherine Walker says that, whatever you do, it’s important to re-evaluate your support network because this may reopen past traumas.

“You may find your childhood experiences come hurtling back and memories that may have been long forgotten can reignite old wounds,” she says.

We want you to bring your adult self to any meet-up, for this is crucial in making safe decisions.

If it is possible, it would be beneficial for you to find a therapist (psychotherapy.org.uk) to work with you on this – whether you meet up with him or not.

“You don’t need to rush into contacting your father,” says Walker. “It’s OK to choose not to have people in your life you believe are/will be harmful to your sense of self.”

She also advises planning the meeting: imagine the scenario, where you would like to meet, what you’d like to say, but don’t have “fixed expectations so as not to disappoint yourself”.

Even if the meeting goes well, don’t get carried away. You have children to think about so don’t, for example, invite him to your home until you are really very sure. I am mindful of you saying he “never made me feel safe”, and his harming of your dog. It’s not all or nothing: you can meet up with him once, then never again, or only occasionally. You don’t have to have him back in your family.

Walker and I recognise you have “taken responsibility from a really young age”. Be careful of falling back into old habits: guilt is often less about our own behaviour than responsibility for other people’s. And regret tends to come from not thinking things through or owning your decisions.

‘It’s OK to choose not to have people in your life you believe will be harmful to your sense of self’

Culture

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2021-10-22T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-10-22T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://theguardianweekly.pressreader.com/article/282514366728612

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