Aw @Shaz51
Abuse and rejection is hard to endure - and it went on until you were 43 - I understand
It was different with my mother but she kept it up for my lifetime. I saw a woman dying with terrible regrets - I forgave her for my own sake - I took a long look at her life from as many angles as I could and see she was an incredibly unhappy person - I understand her reasons but not her excuses
With your Dad is obviously different but there is the similarity of rejection and that is so hard to take - probably you had no chance to discuss this with him and clarify the sitation - I am so sorry this happened to you
Where does this leave you though Shaz? You are indebted to your mother as she did rescue you from your father in time - but then - it went on for a while - I don't any more than you have written here but it seems there was an overlap in time - and you have Mr Shaz playing games which is hard to take when you have had other people doing this in your life
We all have tough things happening to us - we react differently - some people are more resiliant than others and we work through it all differently too
If you have never had the chance to talk through what your father did and how he treated you there are no doubt some worms in cans deep inside just waiting to be opened
You are someone who comes across as being in control of so much that is happening - that is the way it seems - and I recall you had your own business before you married Mr Shaz - I hope opening up has helped though you might have done this before - I can't keep up with many threads -
All the best Shaz and thanks for sharing
Dec