[ddvdave]

Hi, everyone!

So since my first post, here's how things have transpired:

I wrote an initial reply to my bdaughter's mom thanking her for the picture and apologizing for running away from her (and not her daughter). This was on 9/3.

On 9/11 I wrote another very candid open honest letter to her mom asking for a line of communication with her (and not her daughter) to begin to heal the wounds. I expressed remorse for my actions, but no regrets for having to leave the situation.

This morning (9/13) I had my first response from her mom letting me know that her daughter wants to send me an email, just so I know to look out for it (and included her email address). Attached to this email was another picture of my bdaughter, from this past May. This was very exciting and promising!

Then later today, her mom emailed me again saying that my bdaughter would be emailing me, but it may take time for her to reply as they have a busy weekend and she has to think about what she wants to say, and when she wants to respond. She also included her mailing address, and asked for a photo of me as she didn't have one yet to date.

In this email, she also said some encouraging words:

"...she does not hate you in anyway and she is the only child I was able to have so she is indeed a blessing. Like you said the past is the past and now is the time that we all need to say well lets try to work on the future and hopefully in some way you can be a part of that."

I gladly sent a photo of myself by email, both a "then" and "now" photo. I also offered a picture of my raised family so she could see her half-siblings.

Then I had an email from my birth daughter saying she'd love to see pictures of her 3 half-siblings.

So, now I'm very happy, still feel pretty down-to-earth as far as logic and thinking rationally goes, but now this door is open.

So, yay, I think the taking everything slow (although today has been a little faster!) and really working on reconciling the past is going to be the way to "in some way" be a part of her life.

-Dave