Hello Dad,

I’m your daughter and, sadly, you and I don’t have the relationship that most daughters and fathers have. You’ve never sent me to my room and grounded me, we’ve never been to a “Daddy Daughter” dance together and when I get married, you won’t be the one walking me down the aisle. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about you or think about what things would be like if you played an active role in my life. I used to dream about waking up one day, walking downstairs to see you sitting at a desk or reading the morning paper.

It wasn’t long before I realized that I was just raised differently than most. My grandparents have raised me to be the young woman I am today and I’ve watched my mother play the role of both mom and dad to me and to my siblings. These three people have bent over backwards for more than 19 years just to put a smile on my face, while all you’ve managed to do is be a mystery to me and occasionally make me feel like your absence was my very own fault. I’ve spent many Father’s Days watching other families celebrate the man that you’re supposed to be and I’ve had to hold back tears every time someone asked me about my father or why they’ve never seen him before. Thankfully, I grew up in a stable home and was given everything I could ever want and need. My family has raised me to be a loving, caring and forgiving young woman. I’m in my second year of college now and I’m doing things that I thought I could never do. I have friends that care about me and they’re there for me when I need them. I am slowly yet surely learning how to take care of myself and how to become a responsible adult. My grandfather has taken on every responsibility that should’ve been bestowed upon you, and I hope you feel guilty for making a man raise another man’s child.

Many young women in my position would be angry and might even say that they hate you for the route you decided to go. As I stated before, I’m a loving, caring and forgiving young woman and I don’t hate you. Although you and I may never cross paths in life, I’m thankful for you because without you I wouldn’t be here. There is an abundance of statistics out there regarding single-parent families and young women who don’t have a relationship with their fathers. However, I’ve surpassed every stereotype and every obstacle life has thrown at me and I couldn’t be more proud of myself.

I think the most important thing you should know is that you’re missing out on a great person: one who is seen as selfless and often puts others before herself.

I am confident, I am successful, I’m intelligent, and I accomplished all that without you. I’ve gone this far without you in my life and I think I’m doing pretty well for someone my age. I’m sorry you couldn’t see that for yourself..