(07-10-2018, 04:00 PM)findingme Wrote: I'll add on another recent positive experience.

Last Saturday was a mandatory work day. While me and my coworker were picking up stuff missed around town, we ended up in my own neighborhood where I live.

Now, I'd texted my daughter the day before seeking to know if she wanted to go out. No reply. I got a little miffed, but.......I realized I was acting and feeling like a small child. I'd considered some angry blast back....... No. I wouldn't do that. She may leave, but tearing her down would only hurt her and our relationship. I let it go.

Thank ***.

Saturday morning, she texted me while we were in my own neighborhood (me and my coworker still in our work truck). She'd come by my place, gone in, seen I wasn't at home, and texted me saying she wanted to see me before she left. She even texted twice, back to back. In 5 minutes, we drove right up to where she was standing. I got out of my dirty work vest, came up to her, and hugged her . I held on since, like the last time I'd hugged her, she didn't want to let go, nor me to. She shared she didn't want to go back (to Kentucky), and that she wished she could live down here. She spit out a lot of stuff, and I can see SHE isn't living by lies to herself, which is GREAT.

I hugged her about a dozen times in 15 minutes, as I was reading her to say "I just want to be loved". It was gentle, loving, caring, and responsible. I felt good. And bad......my place is only one bedroom; no match for an introverted teenager needing plenty of "safe space". But I felt GOOD that she really wanted to see ME. Being a dad feels awesome sometimes :-).