I think this could fit for sisters to, mine hasn't called me for one year.
A Family Lost-A Family Gained
A little boy of three goes for a walk with his dad and life could not be better. The world is an adventure with places to be explored and the comfort of knowing if things get rough dad’s hand is always there to guide you through. As you ply him with questions about everything you see this boundless source of wisdom seems to know the answer to every difficulty you face. A trail through the forest would be far to frightful to traverse alone, but with dad you are invincible.
Time passes
Now you are eight, dad doesn’t seem to be quite as tall as he once was and as you walk the same trail dad’s hand is the last thing you would want to hold onto. You keep getting to far away and he repeatedly calls you back. You have fun anyway and really deep down you are glad he is there, just in case something were to go wrong you know solving the problem would not be your responsibility.
Time passes
You are now a man, fifteen is such a great age you can see everything so clearly and some things you may prefer not to see. Dad embarrasses you in front of your friends, it appears he has a temper problem and you try to pretend it does not exist. You learn to act like everything is ok to those on the “outside” while inside your young mind cannot solve the dysfunction of the family. So you stay away as much as you can, hoping that things will somehow solve themselves in your absence. The fact remains the family is still in place and if trouble were to arise you know deep down they would help you.
Time passes
Now you wonder what a man is, you are 35 with children of your own. You appreciate in a much deeper way the sacrifice your parents made as you raise your children. You want to share your life with your parents as you feel you can relate closely to them with all that you have experienced. You try to understand their problems and make excuses for the bad behavior and embarrassing situations they put you into. Over and over you try to reach out, yet over and over you are made to know deep down they really just do not have the capacity to feel and express love. After being hurt along with your family on many occasions you finally give up. You give up not on trying, but instead on trust. No longer can your heart bear the pain of constant betrayal of what true love means. You wonder if you were really down and out would they be there for you?
Time passes
You finally feel you are learning what a man is at 45. You have watched your children grow and tried to impart to them the love and security you seldom felt in your life. You muse to yourself, “they just do not know how good they have it”. Then there is your parents, bitter, arrogant, haughty, vindictive. Occasionally they do have their moments, like when they stop by ever six months or so to throw a fifty at the kids and then get back to their real life. As you watch the parents of others, you have the feeling of a person who has lost the use of his legs. He will never run or walk again so why fret or wish he could do so. It is a lost cause. So to with parents who do not care to love. You stand always willing to give it another chance, but sadly you seem to always know the outcome. Life is without the safety net so many seem to enjoy, no backup, no assistance, no assurance, no help, you are truly on your on. Sometimes you wish you were that little child of three with dad’s hand close by, but now you are in the forest, you look around and no one is there. The journey of life lay yet before you, your children have the security as best you can offer, your parents will soon be in your care, it is just a matter of time and you accept this responsibility. As for you, what is left, but to try and live your life as the person your parents will never be.