Family is intended to be a haven, a place of warmth and comfort where we can feel protected and supported. But what happens when the ones we go upon for stability—our parents—become the cause of confusion and tension? In this book, we look at real-life instances of parents whose actions transformed their children’s lives into something out of a dramatic soap opera.

Story 1:

My mother left us when I was 12. 25 years later, she suddenly reappeared, begging to meet my 16 y.o. daughter. My child agreed, even though I said, ’’Don’t! She will use you!’’

2 years later, my mother di:e:d, and my daughter got a call from an unknown number. Her face turned pale when she realized it was my mother’s lawyer. He said she needed to come urgently to sign some papers and collect some of her belongings.

My heart dropped when I discovered an old suitcase full of drawings—my childhood doodles, all neatly kept—as well as the small art projects I had done in school.

All this time, I thought my mother didn’t care about me, and I was wrong. I am devastated that she wanted to reconcile, and I didn’t give her a chance. But at least my daughter was better than me; she grew close to her in her final years.