So far, one non-related ‘kid’ and one bio-’kid’ ‘got’ it. Two of the others have chewed in with malice and ‘confusion’. Good to know, I guess. I really have had a problem knowing how welcome I am/have been in their lives…whether they wanted more contact or less. Now I think I know that none of them are hurt because I’m not involved enough. Maybe.
You know, I thought if I started conversations rather than waiting for them to initiate—because they are busy people nowadays, with work and families—that that would help things, but apparently my usual inability to whatever, only made things not only obvious, but worse.
You certainly cannot control outcomes. If people want to see malice, they will. I’ve read that people live by the stories they make up about themselves and their lives, and everything has to fit into that program.