Dear Queenie,
A while ago I had an argument with my father and we both said some pretty nasty things and didn’t speak to each other for a while. Eventually I apologised for what I had said, but he wouldn’t forgive me.
A while after that he started another argument and this time I just said I was done talking to him and walked away.
I don’t want things to be like this between us but I’m tired of all the stress. The rest of our family agrees with me that enough is enough.
Queenie, do you think my father will ever learn to do better?—Unforgiving daughter
Dear Unforgiving,
Your father’s behaviour may be an early symptom of Alzheimer’s disease. Can anyone arrange to have him get a complete physical check-up?
Other than that, all you can do is what you have done: walk away when he becomes argumentative and/or abusive.
