Aw, thanks, Arpad. You are so kind. I appreciate you reading this and sharing such sweet comments.

As for my mother ... I forgave her many years ago. She did the best she could with the tools she had. Times were different. It doesn't make it okay but I understand. I have compassion for her own wounds and hardships. She didn't know better.

Besides, forgiveness is never about the "offending person." It's for the one doing the forgiving. It doesn't mean that what she did was okay. It just means I don't want to hurt about it anymore.