When I read the beginning of your post, I felt like you were talking about my life. My father was an *****. He was mean and verbally abusive to me, my mom and my sister. I have little contact with him now. I see him a few times a year on the big holidays. He pretty much wants nothing to do with me and my sister. Fine by me. I never realized how dysfunctional my relationship with my father was until I saw my best friends relationship with her father. He was caring, he talked to her, he WANTED to spend time with her, and he didn't put her down. Now, whenever my Uncle or the man my mom is dating takes an interest in me and wants to talk I'm uncomfortable. I don't understand why they care about me. I think its weird. That's really sad. My dad along with a butt ton of other things in my life have given my self-worth and self-esteem quite a beating. I'm working on loving myself and understanding that what I think about myself is more important than what other people say and think about me.