It’s been 10 years since my daughter has lived with me. When she was 5 almost 6 she went to her dads for spring break and stayed… because of the choices I made in 2012 the judge in San Diego gave her dad full physical and legal custody, in 2013 her dad pulled all contact in Hope’s that I would turn my life around.
On April 2nd 2013 I went to treatment. I didn’t know if recovery or sobriety was what I wanted but I missed my daughter and was sick of letting down everyone that loved me.
Slowly in the last 5 years Chad E. Jeffrey our family and myself starting working on what they were comfortable with and how to move forward. Last year I was awarded my rights back not only by Chad but the courts.
Today is very bitter sweet for me…. we are headed home from San Diego and Abby is moving home! I’m both excited and sad. Sad because I know the pain of saying good bye to our little girl at the end of a visit, excited because i have dreamt of this very moment every day for a very long time.
It’s been a long hard journey and if you had asked me 6 years ago if she would ever live with me again I would have told you there was no way her dad would allow it. I wouldn’t change a thing about the way our course has gone…. my hard days are what made me stronger,
I would be the first to tell any mom I meet struggling or trying to have their children in their life after the destruction and wreckage of active addiction DO NOT GIVE UP!
Keep working on you and doing the next right thing. My life is truly blessed and I owe it all to my HP, the 3 women who have worked with me and done steps with me ( my old sponcor for the first 3 years who taught me to be patient, stop being a victim and that I WAS wrong and to own my part in not having my daughter in my life ) my current sponsor who doesn’t let me bullshit my way threw life , the program, the steps and the literature.
Here’s to the next chapter in our story, Abby living in oregon with me and us all co parenting and making memories.
Thank you Chad for being willing to give me a chance and trusting me, and for being there for our baby when clearly I was not healthy or able. Thank you tiffany for putting up with the Miller’s, allowing us in your home to stay and spend the week as a unit instead of enemies and being the mother figure in my baby’s life. If I haven’t said it lately i appreciate you. Thank you.
Much love and respect to you both.
