Dear Abby advises a son on how he should fix the strained relationship he has with his father.
My father and I have had a contentious relationship since I was a teenager. Despite being raised in his house, my values are different from his, and he takes it personally. I left home as soon as I was old enough and have lived the way I want since then.
After a couple of years of not seeing each other, my father asked if we could be in more regular contact. We tried that, and it went badly. Every conversation ended in a fight. When I told him we needed a family counselor to help us find common ground, he absolutely refused. Now he’s telling our relatives that I cut off contact with him and am keeping him from my kids. This isn’t true. I wanted us to work with a mediator to find a healthier way of talking with each other. I am no longer sure it is realistic.
He is involving my siblings, aunts and cousins and making them choose sides. How do I protect the relationships I have with the rest of my family if he keeps acting like a jerk? For what it’s worth: My life is pretty boring.
