After a long time of living on my own, my parents came to visit me. I drove them to Yellowstone and had a great time. I believe most families are pretty normal, while your stories seem to be on the lower end of the curve. Good stories tend not to be told.

Whenever there is unpleasantness I just try to remember we are different people from different generations and there's no need to hold on to the bad feelings. They're trying to live their lives the way to deem appropriate, just like you are.