[bothsides]

I've never talked to anyone with a similar experience to me. When I was 19 years old my pregnant girlfriend left me. I was a very insecure, immature and jealous kid back then and I don't blame her for doing it. I did briefly try to be a part of my daughters life but was met with much resistance from her family and eventually I stopped trying. My daughter is now 15. A few years ago she was legally adopted by her mother's husband, which I did not contest. The reason I didn't contest is because I'm adopted myself and knew I would not have wanted my biological family contacting me when I was a kid. I wrote a letter to my daughter's mother when the adoption was happening and let her know why I wasn't contesting but that I absolutely did care about my daughter and hoped to have some sort of a relationship with her someday. Jump forward to last week. I never heard from my daughter's mother a few years ago when I wrote the letter and just decided one night to send a message to her via facebook.com. It was brief, just letting her know that I'm sorry for the past and hope to have a relationship with my daughter someday. I haven't heard back and don't think I will. It has been very difficult for me over the years having a daughter that I wasn't a part of her life and haven't been there physically, emotionally or financially. Anyway, any other birthparents know where there child is but not part of their life? Just wondering how it's been for you and how you cope.

Take care,
Doug