There are little girls who truly and unconditionally love their dads. Little girls who follow their dads around, faithfully by their side, even if it’s only to the dump or to garage sales. And there are little girls who believe their fathers can do no wrong. Most people call them, “Daddy’s girls.”
I know, because I was one of those girls. I adored my dad, and he adored me. He was my guy, and I knew I would always love him to the end.
Knowing this, you can only imagine the pain I felt the night I stood at the top of the stairs as I listened to my oldest sister screaming at my dad. I quietly stood there, and watched as my dad packed his things, saying nothing. My heart broke as I saw my mom standing there in tears, softly crying out my dad’s name. I sat down on the stairs, and began to put the pieces together. Though I was only nine, I was smart enough to realize that my dad was leaving me. As he finished packing his things, he glanced up the stairs and noticed me sitting there. I can only imagine how it broke his heart to see his little girl in tears, to see the look of abandonment on my young face. His voice cracked as he softly told me, “Daddy’s going away for a little while.”
Then he gave me a hug and a kiss, turned, and walked out the door.
That night, I came to find out that my dad had been cheating on my mom with another woman in the town where he was working. He would often stay the week there at the office, then come home to us on the weekends. My dad had always hated being alone, and I guess the time he was away was too much for him to handle. Due to his infidelity, my parents divorced after 23 years of marriage.
I went to see my dad every other weekend, and we worked to rebuild the connection that was once so strong. I constantly tried to find the good in him, and wanted so badly to defend his terrible choices. I didn’t know then, why I felt so devoted to a man who had caused my first heartbreak.
That was a lesson to be learned later in my life.
Monday: Part 2
© 2009 “Le Musings of Moi”
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wow… that must’ve felt like such a betrayal. in my case, it was my mom who cheated… with a priest. the upshot was the same, though… i lost my daddy. sigh. i can’t wait to read more of your story….
Summer….my parents where married for 25 years…and I was the oldest in my family….I remember soo many times sitting at the top of the steps consoling my little brother when my parents fought. My dad also cheated on my mom. We didn’t talk after that…I was old enough to blame him for everything…but my brother still went with him. Now…we are cloesr than ever…and I wish I didn’t hold such a grudge against him for so many years….
Such wonderful writing. Thanks for sharing. Can’t wait until Tuesday.
That must have been devastating at such a young age. Looking forward to your entire Legacy!
My parents cheated on each other. It took me quite a few years but I finally realized that their marriage was terrible and the best thing that they did was to divorce. They are both remarried and much happier.
But at the time, it broke my heart as well and I wasn’t that close to my dad.
Wow…sorry you had to go through that..I cannot relate to that as my parents never divorced..although sometimes I wish they would have because of all the fighting I witnessed growing up..Not fun!
I’m so sorry about what you went through…
Visiting from SITS and wanting to read.
My parents divorced when I was 10 and I too was a daddy’s girl. It broke my mother and she made the choice to heal from my father’s infidelity with her parents. She took my 1 year old sister with her and we stayed with my father until she could financially figure a way to have all three under HER roof. It took her 3 1/2 long years. But she did it. 🙂
I’m off to read the rest.
Good for you sharing this. I’m so proud of you for opening up about all of this. You are a talented writer.
HUGS!