Puter:
Earlier that day I came across some pictures of my kids. I haven't had any contact with them for a very long time. I feel empty without them. They are 19 and 17 now and the oldest is getting married this fall. I have been informed, I am not to be present.
I am so sorry for you and them. They are hurting, too...they are just not able to express it. There are no winners here.
I, too have had almost no contact with my 3 daughters for 7 years. I know that very familiar hollow, empty feeling . 2 of mine are the same ages as yours, the other older one...thank god, is slowly coming around. We talk briefly once a week, she supported my re-marrying to a non-witness. It has been a most hurtful long, long road. I, too was not invited, nor wanted at marriages, graduations and even at times my JW X wife, would not even call me when one of our children was in the hospital ! In 2 cases it was so serious, they could have died...she said sorry, she was just real busy and nothing I could have done anyway... Good Christian, huh ?
I have been sending on occasion notes to my children to let them know that I still love them. Everytime I compose these notes, it is extremely difficult for me, because I don't expect a reply. Not that I am expecting one, but it's form of communication, and I would love to just even see a glimps of them.
Puter, I've been doing the same for years...not one single response. Writing to them...tears my heart out, because of all the good memories that come flooding back to me. Many times if I did get to ask...did you get my card? The reply was, "No, What card?" I know my X 'intercepted them. "A form of communication," I've used those exact words...they can never say, I didn't care or I did not write or I abandoned them.
I'll bet you don't even have current pictures of your kids, just like me. When long-time customers of mine ask, "How are your kids?" They pull out their pictures...then ask to see mine. They say, "I thought they were older, do you have any newer ones?" Well...and I start lying, saying these are some of my favorite ones...
The only advice I can offer is: take one day at a time, keep on trying to show your love for them, don't let them forget that you are alive and never "go quietly into the night." Never Surrender...