I'm sorry about the family problems. Everyone is right; you shouldn't feel like a burden. My parents had a nasty divorce when I was 15. My dad used to be a real jerk. It's a long story, but in a nutshell, I didn't speak to my dad again until I was 20. Every situation is different, but I can tell you how I felt. Once I reunited with my dad, I realized that we'd both grown up. We'd both changed quite a bit. It was really awkward at first. Here he had this new family that I didn't know, he didn't have a clue who I was. Alot happens during your teen years, so my dad missed so much. I now realize that no one is perfect. Both my dad and I made mistakes in the past. We were to stubborn to reunite for a long time. I regret that. We've been reunited for five years now, and it occasionally gets awkward.

For instance, the other day, I was all happy cause Sean, my first boyfriend and very close friend came home from the war...my dad was like "Who's Sean?" It threw me off and saddened me. Because Sean was a huge part of my life. I actually lived with his family when he went into the service. His parents are in my Will to care for my son. His sister is my son's Godmother. And my dad says "Who is he?" Things like that make me stop and think. I think it is sad that my dad missed so much of my life, that he doesn't know how I came to be me.

I say, do not let to much time pass. It'll just make it harder. Even if your dad is imperfect. By all means, don't accept abuse. But have some type of relationship with him if he isn't abusive.