Certainly, growing up you can understand why your parents acted the way they did. Perhaps they even did the best they could with the few tools they had. But you do not have to forgive. Some things are unforgivable, especially if the people are unrepentant. I think that’s the wrong metric. What’s more useful to understand is that becoming bitter and ruminating over what happened to you will only burn you out. That kind of hate doesn’t harm the people who wronged you, it hurts you. Make peace with what happened the best you can and try to fix what is fixable. You can not heal any one else, but you can always work on yourself. Be the parent you needed to your hurt and confused inner child. They deserve it. You deserve it.

Stay safe out there, everyone.