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Dear Daryl Sr.

May 13, 2004

Dear Daryl Sr., I used to think it was my fault, our severed relationship that is.

I always thought that it was some little thing that I did that caused it and no matter how I looked on the outside I was always destroyed because of it.

I always wished that I could go back in time and change that something that I did so that it wouldn't have to come to this. But now I know. I know that the truth is it was your fault and there was nothing that I could have done about it.

We were all a happy family, but, then one day you were gone, and I was left with only my mom to be a mother and a father to me.

Yeah, we saw each other and you picked me up here and there, but I never knew the reality of the situation. The reality was that you cheated on my mom and when she found out about it you left.

I remember waking up in the middle of the night and going into moms room to her crying over money issues. That's where you step in again.

When you left mom, you left her with more than a broken heart, you left her with all your joint expenses and then didn't even bother to pay child support money which you were legally and I wish morally obligated to pay.

Mom could have easily sued you for the money, but she was afraid that it would hurt my relationship with you. So she pushed on even though it was a non stop struggle with the death of our dearest family member, Daisy Parker, my Great Grandmother and moms Grandmother.

The death of Grandma Parker only added to the stress and tears of me and mom. But once again we pushed on without you. After a few years money problems managed to work their way back into me and moms life as the rent steadily increased.

We were forced to move into my grandparents house, where we still paid normal expenses such as rent, food, and other bills that needed to be paid. I am now going through school as a thirteen year old, eighth grader and making pretty good grades.

My mom has paid off all the bills and now we will soon be able to buy a house of our own. Now you know how it is over here. We were just fine without you.

I wish that you were a man, like you should have been and took care of your responsibilities. This is just a hint of what happened on the other side, the side that didn't even bother to try to nurture.

I will always be incomplete because of these experiences. I'm almost ashamed to say that you are my father, and every night that I pray, I pray that I will be ten times the father you were, ten times the man you were.

I'm sorry that what I had to say had to come out like this. I love you. I forgive you.

Sincerely your son,

Daryl Jr.

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