Dear Prudence,
I wasn’t the best parent for my older two children. They were a product of an abusive marriage. I left, was in a string of bad relationships, and they grew up in poverty. I finally got a good therapist, moved states, and remarried. Having a baby with my partner has strained the relationship further with my 20-something-year-old kids. I feel tremendous guilt that they didn’t get the stable, healthy parents and financial security their half sister has. I’m sure it’s hard for them too and their anger is valid. Is there anything I can do to repair the relationship with my older kids?
—New Life, Tons of Regrets