Dad Who Rejected Gift From Daughter Over Past Betrayal Offers Heartfelt Apology

In a touching turn of events following a highly charged family conflict, a father has provided an update to his controversial decision regarding his 17-year-old daughter’s Father’s Day gift. Once criticized for his harsh response to the painful secret of his ex-wife’s affair, the father has taken thoughtful steps towards mending the relationship. The update reveals a transformative journey from cold rejection to heartfelt reconciliation. The narrative now focuses on how acknowledging one’s mistakes can reshape the bonds between parent and child during tough times.

In this updated account, the father admits to feeling deep regret after causing his daughter emotional distress. Realizing that his actions had unintended consequences, he made sincere efforts to apologize and rebuild trust. The update offers a glimpse into the progress of healing, with both parties engaging in open, honest dialogue—a critical step in overcoming long-standing wounds in family relationships.

For those who want to read the previous part: Original post

‘Update: AITAH for telling my daughter to keep her Father’s Day gift to herself because she hid her mother’s affair from me for months?’

Just wanted to a provide a quick update. I did feel guilty after rejecting my daughter’s gift yesterday and after reading a few comments, it confirmed that I was an AH. I went to her room yesterday and apologized for everything. It really hurt me that I made her cry that much. I told her that I didn’t mean it and we had a chat.

I got the gift and the letter was really sweet and heartfelt and I thanked her. I felt really touched after reading it and I will preserve it forever.  For the rest of the day, I took her out on a shopping trip, and then in the evening we went to theaters to watch a movie. She seemed very happy.

At night, we had one more serious chat where I told her it wasn’t her fault at all. She said she still feels very guilty about hiding the whole affair from me, because even though she hated her mom for the affair, she was worried about exposing the affair because of how the whole family would fall apart.

I told her that she shouldn’t feel guilty about anything, and it’s not her fault at all, and it’s only her mom’s fault. We then talked a bit about her mom, and she agreed that if there’s one thing she learned from the entire thing, it’s not to emulate her mom when she’s an adult.

I agreed, and also told her it was unfortunate that she got such a mom.  I told her we both need individual therapy to deal with the divorce and her mom’s selfish actions and my daughter was open to it. So we will start looking for a therapist soon. 

Family dynamics can suffer long-term damage when secrets and unspoken grievances build up over time. In this case, the father’s initial reaction was a manifestation of deep emotional hurt stemming from his ex-wife’s betrayal—a burden that unfairly weighed on his daughter. As family therapist Dr. Laura Markham often emphasizes, “When parents embrace vulnerability and openly address their own pain, they set a powerful example for healing.”

Dr. Markham’s insight reminds us that acknowledging mistakes and making amends is vital for repairing family bonds. Here, the father’s willingness to approach his daughter with honesty and open dialogue was a necessary step toward healing.

By proposing the idea of seeking individual therapy, he not only addressed his own emotional wounds but also created an environment where his daughter could feel supported. This balanced approach underscores the importance of effective communication and mutual care in overcoming adversity in troubled families.

See what others had to share with OP:

The Reddit community’s responses to the update were broadly supportive and praised the father’s efforts to make amends. Many commenters noted that a genuine apology can be transformative, emphasizing how important it is for parents to recognize and rectify their mistakes.

Community members commended the move towards open dialogue and even highlighted that such steps could serve as a positive model for others facing similar difficult situations. Overall, the update was met with encouragement for continuing this path of emotional transparency and healing.

[Reddit User] − A good person realizes their faults, looks to atone and is always trying to better themselves.

CapraCat − The single most impactful thing my father ever did when I was growing up was apologize to me when he was wrong. It’s an important lesson but many parents refuse to acknowledge their mistakes towards their kids. Your daughter is lucky to have a father willing to humble himself to apologize. I guarantee she won’t forget it either.

One_Celebration_8131 − Great work!! I'm proud of both of you.

chica771 − It's really impressive that you could see a different view of the situation and then go do the right thing! Opening the lines of communication with your daughter will go a long way towards healing.

Imaginary-Purpose-20 − I was in a similar situation as a kid and found my dad cheating. Your daughter was in a no-win situation and that’s the kind of thing that’s hard for an adult to deal with, let alone a kid. I’m glad you made up with your daughter, that was definitely the right thing to do.

The only thing I will say is please don’t poison your daughter against her mom. You are angry with her and have every right to be, but her mom wronged *you,* not her. Please be the bigger person in this situation and don’t encourage a deteriorating relationship between a mom and her daughter.

I hated my dad and then he died when I was a teenager. I’m in my late 30’s and still have to deal with not only his death but our complicated relationship that was never resolved. She only has one mom and we only have one life. Who knows what the future holds. So long as she’s a good parent, your daughter needs her as well as you.

jbarneswilson − thank you for sharing this update. parent to parent, it is so important to apologize to our kids when we mess up 💜💜💜

Witty_Count_4418 − I’m proud of you. You taught her so much by apologizing. Keep this open dialogue with her. Sounds like you both need it!

FallismyJam − maybe dial back the 'sorry you lost the mom lottery' talk. That's going a bit too far. when discussing the mom, remain neutral. Let her form her own feelings about her mom without influence. Good job owning up to your lapse in judgement and letting her know she has nothing to do with any of it. very nice.

Rubyloxred − I'm glad you apologized to your daughter. It's a damm shame when parents bring their young children into their relationship issues.

Flat_Fennel_1517 − Congrats OP! So nice to hear you took the right steps with your daughter.

This latest update highlights the bittersweet journey from pain to reconciliation—a poignant reminder that even in the aftermath of betrayal, healing is possible with openness and empathy. The father’s decision to apologize, spend quality time together, and even consider therapy signifies progress, yet also invites deeper reflection on how unresolved past grievances can affect family relationships over time.

What are your thoughts on the balance between personal hurt and the need to maintain family unity? Have you experienced a similar moment where a sincere apology changed everything? Join the discussion below and share your stories of healing and reconciliation.

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