All My Life My Father Blamed Me for My Mother’s Passing, Then He Gets Taught a Lesson – Story of the Day

I grew up believing that my father blamed me for my mother’s death but the truth was heartbreaking.

I never knew my mother, and my father never spoke about her. All I knew was that she had been very beautiful, because of the picture that hung on my father’s study wall, and that she had died very young.

My father was a sad man, a quiet and distant man. I wanted him to notice me, and to love me, but he never did. He rarely spoke to me beyond the perfunctory hello and goodbye, good morning and goodnight. I would have given anything for him to sweep me into his arms and tell me he loved me.

The shadow of my mother's death followed me my whole life | Source: Shutterstock.com

The shadow of my mother’s death followed me my whole life | Source: Shutterstock.com

This strange and strained relationship with my father continued until I was 18, and by then I was a sad and lonely young woman who believed my father hated me. If my father didn’t love me, who would?

But the answer to all my questions was about to be delivered in the most painful and cruel way. My father was hosting a party for his business associates, and among them was a woman whom I knew slightly.

If you don’t leave the past behind you, you deny yourself a future.

I had the feeling that she and my father had a past together — or at least that she wished they did. She greeted me and we started chatting — inconsequential talk about nothing special — and my father walked by.

I gave him my best smile, but he immediately glanced away. The woman saw it all. “Do you know why?” she asked.

I grew up feeling that my father hated me | Source: Unsplash

I grew up feeling that my father hated me | Source: Unsplash

“Why what?” I asked, confused.

“Why he hates you,” she said.

“My father doesn’t hate me!” I exclaimed. “He’s just not a very demonstrative man.”

“So you don’t know…” she smiled. It was the ugliest smile I’d ever seen. I was about to walk away when she said, “He believes you killed your mother, Karen.”

One day at a party someone told me the truth | Source: Unsplash

One day at a party someone told me the truth | Source: Unsplash

I stopped in my tracks. “What?” I gasped.

“Your mother died giving birth to you, surely you know that?” she said.

“No…” I answered. “No, I didn’t know.” I turned my back on her and went looking for my grandmother, my father’s mother, the woman who’d raised me and never told me about my mother’s death.

“How did my mother die?” I asked her angrily. “Was it in childbirth?”

My mother had died in childbirth | Source: Pexels

My mother had died in childbirth | Source: Pexels

My grandmother shook her head. “Please Karen, your father asked me never to speak of this with you.”

“I have the right to know about my own mother!” I cried. “I have the right to know why my father hates me!”

Then a quiet angry voice behind me said, “I don’t hate you, Karen, but your mother’s death is none of your business:”

I turned to face my father. “My mother’s death is none of my business? You’re wrong! I killed her, didn’t I? That’s what you think each time you look at me!”

My father blamed me for her death | Source: Unsplash

My father blamed me for her death | Source: Unsplash

The expression in his eyes sent me running out of the door. I got into my car and drove aimlessly, tears running down my face. In my distress, I didn’t see the oncoming car changing lanes until it was too late.

I woke up in the hospital linked to a beeping machine, with a dull promise of pain twinging through my whole body. Sitting by my side and holding my hand was my father.

“Karen,” he said softly, “Thank God you’re alright!”

“Daddy…” I whispered, “you’re here!”

Tears came into his eyes. “Of course I’m here. I don’t hate you, Karen. I love you. And I don’t blame you for your mother’s death, I blame myself. When your mom and I married we were very poor.

“All we had were dreams and our love for each other. Then she fell pregnant and I took on a second job. I knew we’d need the money when you came along. I was working 16-hour days and she spent a lot of time alone.

“So one day when I came home she wasn’t there. A neighbor had taken her to the hospital. When I got there it was all over. Your mother had died, and I hadn’t been there for her.

The accident nearly cost me my life | Source: Pexels

The accident nearly cost me my life | Source: Pexels

“I didn’t blame you, Karen, I blamed myself. I was determined I wasn’t going to fail you the way I’d failed her, so I threw myself into my work, and I became a rich man.

“Daddy, how could you blame yourself?” I asked. “There was nothing you could have done!”

“I could have been there, holding her hand the way I’m holding yours now,” he said.

“But daddy…” I hesitated, “you were always so angry with me, so cold. You ran away from me.”

My father and I were reconciled | Source: Unsplash

My father and I were reconciled | Source: Unsplash

“Karen, you look just like your mother, and each time I looked at you, my heart was torn apart by grief and guilt. It took nearly losing you to make me realize what I’d done. I love you.”

For the first time in my life, my father put his arms around me and showed me that he loved me. It was a new beginning for both of us, and I like to believe my mother was smiling down from heaven.

What can we learn from this story?

  • If you don’t leave the past behind you, you deny yourself a future. Karen’s father was so lost in his pain that he nearly lost the opportunity to have a wonderful relationship with his daughter.
  • The truth can heal old wounds and open the way to a new beginning. It was only after Karen and her father spoke about their estrangement that they could move past their misunderstandings.

Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.

If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a man who left his widowed mother homeless.

This account is inspired by our reader’s story but written by a professional writer. All names have been changed to protect identities and ensure privacy. Share your story with us, maybe it will change someone’s life.

Hurricane Milton Could Be the Most Devastating Storm in 100 Years!

As Hurricane Milton moves toward Florida’s Gulf Coast, people are preparing for what experts say could be the worst storm in over 100 years. With huge storm surges and strong winds expected, the region is on high alert, and evacuation orders are being issued.

Hurricane Milton is gaining strength fast, and experts warn it could be one of the most dangerous storms in recent times. Many areas are already vulnerable due to past storms, increasing the risk of widespread damage and flooding.

Evacuation orders are in place, and officials are urging people to take the storm seriously and prepare for life-threatening conditions. Safety is the main focus as the storm approaches, and the next few days will be crucial for those in its path.

### Hurricane Milton: A Record-Breaking Storm
Hurricane Milton has grown into a Category 5 storm, one of the most dangerous types on the Saffir-Simpson scale. With winds over 157 mph, it could cause massive destruction along its path.

The National Hurricane Center warns that homes could be destroyed, trees and power lines will fall, and some places might not be livable for weeks or even months. They said, “A high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse.”

Source: Getty Images

Storm surges could be especially bad, with water levels rising up to 12 feet in some areas. This could be the worst surge the Tampa Bay area has seen in nearly 100 years. Just weeks ago, Hurricane Helene caused floods with an 8-foot water surge.

Milton is expected to bring even worse flooding. While the storm may weaken to a Category 3 by the time it hits Florida, it will still be dangerous. With winds up to 129 mph, even strong homes could suffer major roof damage, and trees are likely to be uprooted.

Source: Getty Images

Many are comparing Milton to past hurricanes like Irma (2017) and Betsy (1965). But what makes Milton particularly dangerous is the debris left behind by Hurricane Helene, which could worsen the damage.

### Warnings from Officials: The Call to Evacuate
As the hurricane nears, local authorities are giving strong warnings to people in at-risk areas. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor warned, “[If you] stay in one of those evacuation areas, you’re gonna die.”

Source: Getty Images

She said that while past storms like Hurricane Helene were bad, Milton could bring destruction on a whole new level. Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri echoed this, calling for the largest evacuation since Hurricane Irma in 2017.

“This is going to be bad. Everyone just needs to get out,” he said. Governor Ron DeSantis also spoke of the risks, saying, “There are areas with a lot of debris… if hit by a major hurricane, it’s going to dramatically increase damage.”

Source: Getty Images

Evacuation orders are in place, and local authorities stress that those who don’t leave will be on their own when the storm hits. Many who stayed behind in past hurricanes are now taking these warnings seriously.

### Evacuation Efforts in Full Swing
With Hurricane Milton approaching Florida’s Gulf Coast, evacuation efforts are in motion. Local authorities have ordered mandatory evacuations for several coastal communities, urging people to leave before it’s too late.

Source: Getty Images

Traffic is heavy on highways as thousands of residents move inland to escape the storm. On Interstate 75, northbound lanes were packed with cars heading toward the Florida Panhandle.

Others sought shelter in places like Fort Lauderdale and Miami, which are expected to be less affected. Meanwhile, southbound lanes were nearly empty. Communities hit hard by past storms aren’t taking chances this time.

Source: Getty Images

In Fort Myers Beach, a town devastated by Hurricane Ian two years ago, streets were empty as residents packed up and left, with only a few people staying behind to secure their homes.

Those who remember the severe flooding caused by Ian’s 15-foot storm surge know the danger is real and are taking steps to avoid a repeat of past tragedies.

As Hurricane Milton nears, people in high-risk areas need to know their evacuation zones and routes. The Florida Division of Emergency Management has a “Know Your Zone” tool, helping residents find their zone by entering their address.

Source: Getty Images

This tool is especially important as evacuation orders continue to come for coastal areas along the Gulf Coast. Several counties are advising residents to check both their evacuation and storm surge zones.

Counties like Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, and Pasco have issued immediate evacuation orders for areas most at risk. Coastal communities in these regions must evacuate quickly.

Source: Getty Images

Other counties, like Polk and Highlands, don’t have mandatory evacuations but recommend sheltering in place. Sarasota, Citrus, and Hernando counties are also monitoring storm surge zones for possible evacuations.

Officials emphasize the importance of knowing your evacuation zone and finding the nearest shelters and safe routes. Those who stay may face the full force of the storm, with emergency services likely unavailable once conditions worsen.

Source: Getty Images

The “Know Your Zone” map offers an easy way for residents to plan their safest escape route. By using this resource and acting quickly, people can protect themselves and their families from Hurricane Milton’s potential devastation.

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