Patrick,
While I don't know the dynamics of you family issues, I can tell you that as the bad parent I fully understood my kids feels and even acknowledged that she had every right to feel as she did. But
The minute she picked up the phone and called me, "I" felt as if none of the crap between us never happened. I know it took a lot of courage for her to call me, but I am so grateful she did. She is working on her side of "us".
We are really not discussing "the crap". She won't go there. W e are living in the here and now. She told me that was how she wanted to do it and I am respecting her wishes.
CALL YOUR FAMILY