It's a Christmas Miracle!

For years and years, I have had a really toxic - almost non-existent - relationship with my dad. My parents divorced when I was about 5 years old and my dad has been a bit of an absentee since. In the last handful of months, I've been battling whether or not to reach out to him. On the one hand, he cheated on my mom, walked out on us, and married a witch. But on the other hand, he is my dad and I feel like I deserve to have a healthy relationship with my father, regardless of whether or not he deserves one with me.

After weeks of consideration and fighting myself and really just soul searching, I invited my dad to lunch the other day. We met at one of his favorite places and sat down together away, from the lunch crowd. When I tell you I was scared, I mean I was shitting my pants.

After about 10 minutes of the obligatory small talk, I jumped right into the real reason we were there. I told him that I was tired of playing these games and that I want to have kids soon, and that I need my kids to have a grandpa. I said that I forgive him for everything that's happened in the last ~17 years, and that I was ready to get my dad back.

We talked and cried and reminisced. The lunch crowd turned into the dinner crowd while I sat with my dad for the first time in years. When we realized how long we'd been there, we decided to pick it back up over the upcoming weekend.

I got home and told my husband all about it. I told him about the way I could feel my dad's walls coming down. I told him how good it felt to be a daughter again.

On Saturday, my dad came over to my house. I made us dinner and he sat with my husband and I until well after midnight. Once again, we talked and cried and reminisced. It was beautiful. It was something I thought I'd never have with my dad. I had just accepted that I wasn't a part of his life anymore, that I wasn't his family. But I was wrong. It's going to take time, and things aren't going to be easy, but I am slowly getting my dad back. And I am so excited.

I just thought I'd share this story for those who are in a similar boat, or anyone who just needed a story with a happy ending. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a prosperous New Year. And keep in mind that you are the beginning of the changes you are looking for. Sometimes it's worth the fight to get to where you need to be.