Baby Girl Gets the Lesson..

It's been a week since i brought her home.. and straight up, she's beat down..mentally and physically..she lost alot of weight in the year she's been gone..her hair has broken off real bad.. sometimes she sits on her bed and stares out the window processing her pain.. the Lion in me wants to do more but this is a growing pain, the kind of pain that builds character and she needs to get the life lesson this time..she falls into deep comatose like sleeps most of the day..door closed i can hear the old itunes list playing on the laptop she left behind..  She makes cameos eveery couple of hours to gourge through meals and talk awhile.. i was schocked when she told me that she didn't want any visitors for awhile.. "I just want some time to get myself together Dad."  "That's understandable Crystal..take your time and find your flow."  i recognize the behavior.. she's healing herself...licking her own wounds and applying her own bandages..as so many sisters have learned to do throughout their lives.. so i just fall back and stand guard.  The conversations come in short rapid spurts and combinations....shooting straight soliloquies with only me as her audience.."Dad, I have decided that i will never have the kind of relationship i have always wanted with my mother.  She is not capable of it at least right now."  "Ok, that's your call babe.  But if that's what you have decided then drop the handle right now."  "what handle?"  "the handle tht is attached to her wagon.  Stop pulling her wagon babygirl.  Yours is heavy enough.  Release that burden on your heart."  "I needed closure with her Dad.  I needed her to explain why she was gone for so many years and she just wouldn't do it. Every time i tried to get her to talk to me she just blew me off.  So i decided that if she couldn't be the mother i needed then i wouldn't be the daughter she always wanted." I look at her sideways.  Such prophesy coming from my child.  Maybe she was listening after all.  "That's real talk babygirl."
She starts playing with  a strand of hair that is badly split.  "Time for a trim huh?"  "Yeah it's been a while."  "call ms kameesha in the morning and  make an appt for yourself.  And then stop by teh mall and pick up a few outfits for yourself.  And fill out a few applications while you're there"   She smiles. 

 "Dad?"  "Yes?"  "I'm sorry for everything i said and did.  You were the only one who was there for me my whole life.  YOu didn't deserve that.  But i've changed alot in the past year.  I am not the same person i was.  I promise that will never happen again."  I kiss her forhead.  "i told you before babygirl.  I am the only man you will ever meet who is going to love you in spite of yourself.  I don't have no agenda.  And i forgive you because i love you unconditionally.  But you're right you are not the same spoiled brat who left here.  I expect more from you now than i did a year ago.  Ain't nuttin changed but the date on the calendar.  You may have changed but i have not.  I am still that dude.  You must do your part to maintain this relationship.  You must go to school and you must work.  I'm not about to let up on you"  she laughs heartily for the first time since she has been home.  "I know.  Believe it or not.  I missed that the most.  I love you Dad."    "i love you more."   "WIth all my heart Dad." ...       ...

.BG wasn't the ony one who got the lesson from this experience.. Some in my circle have argued that i should have left her down there to wallow in her own **** longer..that i can't keep rescuing her every time she's in trouble.  i agree with the totality of that philosophy... our kids need to learn how to maneuver and navigate their way through life's storm.. but that doesn't mean we throw them overboard without a rope tied around their waists.. remember, our children come through us but they don't belong to us.. they belong to God.. so turn them over to their heavenly Father.. and pary he send them back safe sound and sane.. it looks like He did for mine..Be Blessed

beautiful

for the work you are putting in to mold her in to a great Woman.

wow - I must have missed the boat - for some reason I thought these were fictional stories.

That's huge and amazing, man - she is blessed to have you as a Dad

You gon make me go hug my Poppy

sung to the tune of one of The Emotion**** jams from back in the day:

"You gonna make her hug her Poppy yet,
if ya keep on, writin the way do.
(she's gonna do et, she's gonna do et.)"

Awwww she's beautiful Donnie....and I have a feeling that she's going to make you even more prouder as time goes on.

Yo D,

I sure hope you're saving these posts for your upcoming novel.  Great stuff as usual.

Not to jump all up in your business D, but why was babygirl hospitalized? 

Blessings for babygirl.  She had to go through this experience in order for her to grow as a young woman.  So glad she is back home where she belongs.

Great story!