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I learned many years ago, after several months of therapy, to forgive my dad for his inability to provide emotional support and realize that financial support is the only way he knows of to show his love for me and my kids. Through college, I always told people that my relationship with my dad was purely financial and I was very resentful of that. It took time and a good counselor to help me forgive him for his weaknesses. I actually feel sorry for him now because he just doesn't know what really brings happiness in life and he's really pretty miserable. He can't and won't ever be the dad I always wanted, but he's the only one I have so I have learned to accept him for who he is. I have limits on that, in that I won't let him treat my kids the way I was treated as a child, and I won't stay with him in his home because he gets nasty then, but as long as we just have short visits over brief periods of time, then he stays in "guest" mode and we are fine. So, I protect my kids from his irrational behavior and I have forgiven him for his irrational behavior toward me.
It's not easy to do, but it's much easier for me to live without hating him...
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