ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author provides a reflection on how a father’s acute difficulties and separation from his children, however severe this has been at times in their lives, might remain possible to reconcile. He seems that if a father has tried to “do his best” for his children and they have sensed both love and a wish for their presence in his life, much can be forgiven, even where erratic care and irresponsible behaviour formed a large part of their childhood experience. Optimism about the value of reconciliation has usually moved the author in the direction of facilitating such meetings when the wish comes from a young person, now more mature, who wishes to make further attempts at sorting things out with parent. Qualities of adult conversations that allow children to reconcile with their fathers might not include forgiveness as much as the recognition of new dimensions in him which they had not previously been open to experiencing.
