Life was so good...until I became old enough to understand what was really going on. You had so much potential and you blew it. I must have given you hundreds of chances and you succeeded every single time at letting me down. And it wasn't just me, but our family and friends.
It definitely wasn't easy—growing up with the fighting, the let downs, and the tears. I was surrounded by my friends and some of their cookie-cutter families, but all I wanted was a cookie-cutter family of my own. I'm now 18, and all I have to say is thank you. Don't get me wrong, I still get upset about you here and there, but I wouldn't be the person I am today without your help.
Thank you for shaping me into the strong, loving person I am today. I’ve proved to myself that I can overcome some of the toughest obstacles. You motivate me to do something great with my life. As harsh as it sounds, you taught me that I don’t want to be anything like you when I grow up and I never will be. I'll never put my current and future family through the pain you put yours through.
Thank you for helping me build relationships that will last me a lifetime. The people I’ve kept close over the years have helped me through thick and thin and seen me at my best and at my worst. If it wasn't for you, I'd never be as close as I am to my dad and my brother. I'd never be as close to my friends and their families, who I can’t thank enough for the countless times they took me in as one of their own when I couldn't bear to sleep at home another night.
Thank you for teaching me what unconditional love does, and doesn't, look like. Unconditional love is NOT putting yourself first no matter how many people you hurt while doing it. Unconditional love is about making sacrifices. It’s staying by someone’s side through the good times and the bad and giving them another chance. Something that I did way too many times for you. Also, something you proved you could not do—even for your own daughter.
Thank you for teaching me how to build a wall. People will always let you down. This wall I’ve built over the years has helped stop me from getting hurt by many people. I try not to let my guard down, so it’s a rare thing when I get disappointed.
Thank you for teaching me that it’s never bad to be a fighter. No matter how many times someone knocks you down, get back up. Everyone has the ability to choose a path for their life, no matter where they came from or how they were raised. No one controls your happiness but yourself. This is something I have learned to value greatly in life.
I can only hope that one day you come to your senses, get help, and try to mend the many bridges you’ve broken. But you’ve missed out on some of the most important years of my life, something you can never get back. And if you don’t try to mend those bridges, I’ll try my best to be accepting and understanding of that. Just remember, in the end, it’s your loss and not mine.
