Many individuals walk around without having met their mother or father, because for whatever reason one or both parents were unable to bring them up.

For many this is unacceptable (except if the reason is disability or death). This is because for many, a person's inability to raise his/her child advertises an attitude that is extremely selfish and irresponsible.

However in scenario's where an individual embraces such a selfish and irresponsible attitude, is it okay for this individual to repent and then resume their role as a parent?

For many it depends on how long they have neglected their responsibility. This would mean in a case where the children in question have already entered their teenage years, it's more than too late for an absent parent to resume his/her role. The reasoning behind this is that the offspring in question would have in one way or the other gone through a fair amount of pain, laughter, failure, and success without any input from the absent parent, hence giving the absent father/mother no right to take any position within his/her child's life.

The truth is relationships are constantly evolving and our perceptions of people are constantly changing. The fact is, we as human beings aren't even aware of this most of the time because in most cases the changes in our perceptions, or the evolution of our relationships are very subtle.

The point I'm trying to make is just because an absent mother/father wants to re-enter the life of a child that is already his/her own person, doesn't mean the absent parent has to resume a traditional mother/father role. In fact at the start the child doesn't even have to like the newly resurfaced parent.

The most ideal start of a relationship between an absent parent and his/her child should be the same as two complete strangers meeting for the first time. Each individual has his/her own history, dreams, and opinions even though in the case between and absent parent and child their origins are blatantly intertwined. However if the absent father/mother tries to force his/herself into the traditional role then all kinds of resentment and problems will definitely surface.

The bottom-line is no one is beyond forgiveness or a fresh start, and if that is hard for anyone to fathom then think back to a time when you yourself made a fresh start.

This is free advice do what you want with it.