For me it comforted me to know that all of my friends went though some sort of crazy dysfunctional shit in their families also. Keeping things in perspective, not dwelling on the bad times, and realizing most of the times were good, and that everyone had good intentions, even when they caused other people pain. The people who I know who are drenched in hate and anger about their childhoods (barring any really hidious circumstances) feel jipped, like they were given a raw deal in the parent department and everyone else had it better. Also, just getting older, most people start to understand that life is hard, adult decisions are difficult, no one is perfect, and that we want to be forgiven ourselves when we make a mistake. Also, getting to know what my parent’s childhoods were like, how they were thinking during certain events in my childhood, their perspective, helps. Understanding them brings understanding overall.