This is a letter from a father who’s daughter is in our Children of Incarcerated Parents Program.
To My Daughter,
It has been years since the night my poor judgment removed me from your life. In an instant, my lack of discipline and commonsense, cost you the life every little girl is entitled to, to have a loving, caring father by their side to guide and protect them as they go through life. My actions caused you to have to pay the price for my wrong doings. That’s not fair, and I am so very sorry.
I am sorry I wasn’t there to teach you the things I should have taught you. How to ride a bike, shoot a basket or fly a kite. I wasn’t there to help you learn to read and write, take you trick-or-treating, cook with you, play with you, or to comfort you when you were sad. I missed your first day of school, your first dance and too many birthdays and Christmases to ever make-up for. I’ve missed all the things that make you who you are, and I am so very sorry for that.
I would give anything to go back and be the father I should have been for you. I would pay any price to ease the pain I’ve caused you the slightest bit. I would do anything for one more chance to be the father I wish I was and that you deserve to have.
One thing that I hope you know and will always remember is none of this is your fault. You are the best part of my life, even though I’m not a part of yours now. You are a wonderful little girl and you will grow into a wonderful woman. You will have a wonderful life and hopefully have wonderful children of your own.You are my every thought, my reason for the change I’m finally beginning to make. Please know that I love you with every ounce of my heart. You are my world.
Love,
Dad
