I also tear up when witnessing certain things like children being treated tenderly, or being really heard/listened to, or being comforted, watching a children's play or musical or singing performance, all kinds of things like that. I do believe it is that child within that springs to life and recognizes what is still so important, who still hopes. I suppose that means the needs are still there.

Neglect isn't necessarily something intentional. It is misattunement, or maybe chronic misattunement, but not necessarily intentional. This is what I struggle with.. that my parents did do the best they knew how, and that should be enough. But it wasn't.