My Mother Disappeared From My Life. Decades Later, She's Made a Stunning Offer.

"She admitted that she was a terrible mother, and told me that he has set aside more than $6 million in a trust for me. It turns out she did quite well for herself through a combination of excelling in her field and inheriting eight figures from her late grandmother. This is her way of attempting to make it up to me and assuaging her conscience."

"My husband and I have two kids under 6. We have been struggling with student loan debt and childcare costs, and the amount of money here would be life-altering. My mother may be offering this to me, but while she says I wasn't to blame for her leaving-according to her, she was simply not cut out to be a parent-she has also made it clear that she still does not want to be involved in my life or that of my family."

"My husband says I need to "swallow my pride" and accept the money for the sake of our kids. While I understand his logic, I have spent my life feeling the ache of my mother's abandonment. Accepting the money feels like I'm allowing her to buy my forgiveness and condoning her decision to pretend I didn't exist for more than three decades. Is my husband's position the correct one, or would it be allowing my mother to justify her actions?"

A mother who never wanted children left her child at age three and cut off contact. Decades later she reappeared, admitted poor parenting, and disclosed that more than $6 million has been set aside in a trust for the child. The mother insists on no involvement with the child or the child's family. The child and spouse face student loan debt and childcare costs, and the money would be life-altering. The spouse urges accepting the funds for the children's sake, while accepting feels like permitting the mother to buy forgiveness and justify abandonment. The decision is deeply personal.

Read at Slate Magazine