Girls grow up with one true love in their life; daddy: a man who loves you unconditionally no matter what. He is the only man who will never break your heart. The only man who will be by your side no matter what. A girl needs her dad. She needs him to show her how to hunt and fish, to tell her she is beautiful and make her feel loved. He will forever be the man a girl loves her whole life. Thank you, dad, for teaching us to love ourselves and be who we really are. Thank you for giving us a little kick in the butt when we need it. Thank you to all the dads.

Thank you to my Dad, for being the first man to ever break my heart.

Thank you for drinking my childhood away.

Thank you for tearing our family apart for liquor.

Thank you for missing all of my ballet recitals and dance classes.

Thank you for making us drive five hours every other weekend only to turn around because you didn’t show.

Thank you for only showing an interest in me when it was convenient for you.

Thank you for never showing me you cared.

Thank you, Dad, for missing all of my basketball, volleyball and track meets.

Thank you for missing my graduation.

Thank you for loving yourself more than you loved me.

Thank you, Dad. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you for teaching me to never count on anyone. For showing me that I am the only person who can love myself completely. Thank you for making me so strong that when I get knocked down I know I can pick myself back up. Thank you for showing me what not to look for in a marriage. For showing me how to take care of myself. Thank you for breaking me down and making me weak because it only made me stronger. For breaking my heart for the first time so that after every guy broke it I was used to it. Thank you for nothing and everything. Thank you for making me into the woman I am today. Because without you being around, without me having someone to call Daddy and run to when I was sad or hurt, I learned to be strong. I learned to love like I have never loved before and I have learned to never make someone feel the way that you made me feel.

So, thank you Dad.