Two Dear Abby letters describe how abusive relationships affect children and leave parents looking back with regret. One correspondent says that her daughters’ lives are “practically ruined” by the fallout from her abusive relationship, describing ongoing damage that extends beyond her own experience. She writes from a place of anger and distress, emphasizing that her daughters’ futures and well-being have been harmed.
A second letter similarly focuses on the impact on children, but centers on the writer’s remorse. The correspondent says she regrets what her children endured while she remained in an abusive relationship for too long. She frames her response as reflective and retrospective, pointing to the harm done during the period she stayed.
Both letters share the same core message: abuse does not only affect the adult partner, and children can bear lasting consequences. The letters do not provide additional factual details about the relationships themselves in the excerpts provided, but they consistently highlight children’s suffering as a central concern.
