The pain of losing siblings to estrangement is great, for sure. But since I have been given the gift of seeing how we got there, it has taken some of the hurt away. I no longer blame myself completely and see that we were all doing the best we could do.

Mom and I were very close, and in part, that was a response to my inner child clinging to her fiercely. She was a wonderful woman and loved me unconditionally. I am glad I didn't unearth all this childhood pain while she was alive. It would have crushed her.