Anita,
You have such a magical way with words, woven thoughtful answers that bring comfort and also challenging when needed.
I love your phrase ‘belated grace’ , it speaks volumes about the passage of time and emotional growth.

As we navigate life at the speed of light we can be oblivious to what we are building and destroying as we strive for one goal after another. You write : “As more of our lives stretch behind us” we begin to understand the full story, what I have come to cherish is the personal insights and awareness of others that comes with aging and daily reflection.

A number of years ago our eldest daughter was devastated after a break up , at this point I became acutely aware of what I had done to my old girlfriend, it hit me like a freight train, I began to imagine her pain through the medium of my daughters broken heart.

Another lesson I learnt from my children in later life : I always took my responsibility to provide for the family as my primary mission in life. We were a one income family , my wife dedicated her life to creating a loving and safe environment where our children could be happy and thrive. I worked long hours and travelled a lot to different contracts , feeling that we were creating the best possible home for our young family. A few years ago my daughter said that I was never around when they were young. That hurt, but that was here experiences & memories.

Warmly, Gerard