Anger Poem

My Dad Abandoned Me Poem

How many times must we read this heartbreaking story of a child growing up without a father?

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Hey, the same thing happened to me. I thought I was the only one. The man I grew up with wasn't my real dad, but I always thought he was. My mom wasn't even the one to tell me that he wasn't;...

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A Lost Promise

Published by Family Friend Poems July 2006 with permission of the Author.

I am not the way I used to be.
I am stronger and wiser, as you can see.
Remember my words, my father said,
As he cradled me up and laid me to bed.
You will someday be a lady with a life of your own,
With someone to love you as I have shown.
I will always be here to lend a hand,
To help you and guide you when you don't understand.
Somehow I believed his words; I'd see
He was not the father he promised to be.
Instead, he was a man who did not care.
My mother was my father because he was never there.
I often cry myself to sleep;
My father's love was not mine to keep.
I miss my father, I won't lie.
Not a single hug or one last goodbye.
He is now a man free to roam,
Not worrying of his family or coming home.
He walked out of my life and never turned my way.
Oh, why Daddy, why didn't you stay?

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by Andrew Williams
4 years ago

My dad abandoned me when I was 4 years old. My mom says he still loves me because he paid child support, but I do not believe he loved me. He never kept his word and was always breaking promises. He married another woman and had a son for her. When I did visit him, I had always felt unloved. not brave but afraid to ask if he loved me. Not having the courage, I was left alone to fight the battles on my own.

by John
3 years ago

I think my father left my mom because of the seizures he gave me. I have brothers and a sister. My father was with them during their childhood. He abandoned me when I was 6 months old and really never had anything to do with me. It all goes back to I have seizures. I never had a Christmas where my whole family was there. I either went to father's or my mom's. There wasn't a childhood. I will never forget when my father met my mom at a mall. I was probably 3 or 4. He and my mother were having a discussion, but I knew they were fighting. I didn't even want my presents. I knew my father never gave a crap about me. He even told me one night, "Quit messing with your step-brother or I will send you back to your mother." That's when you know your sperm donor never loved you and never will. Don't all brothers fight growing up during childhood?

by Cadence Nevaeh Foskey
7 years ago

My name is Cadence. When I was born my daddy was not there. After a while my mom and my dad were not there either. I hate my dad. He didn't want anything to do with me, but now he does, so I said no. I'm 11 now. I've grown up. He had other girls and didn't have them long. The last girl he had he screwed it up, so I have not talked to him since March 27 and now it is June. If you ask me who my father is I say I don't have one because I do not like him. I don't love him. I hate him. He was not there when I was in the hospital. Now he wants something to do with me, but it is not happening.

by Amy Dean
7 years ago

My father left before I was born, but growing up I didn't know that he did. Instead, my mother lies to me and made me think some guy she was with was my father, so when I did find out I felt so betrayed by her but also relieved because the father figure I did have was very abusive and made me feel unwanted so when I found out he wasn't my real father I was 13. It hurt so much. Not only had I been rejected by my real dad, the one that stuck around to raise me had made my life hell.

by Bryn Maisenbacher
3 years ago

Hey, the same thing happened to me. I thought I was the only one. The man I grew up with wasn't my real dad, but I always thought he was. My mom wasn't even the one to tell me that he wasn't; he was. My dad left me when I was 6 months, or so that's what my mom told me what happened. But my stepdad was abusing my mom, and I was so used to it that I thought it was normal. He said she deserved it because she would leave for weeks. I tried to call the cops, but my mom said we had nowhere to go. So this went on for 6 years, and I later found out at 14 that he wasn't my dad, so I wanted to leave. I wanted to leave anyway, but that pushed me toward the edge. After begging my mom for years, we moved to my grandpa's. My stepdad kept contacting me and my mom with threats and everything, so I blocked him on everything. But after two months of living with my grandpa, my mom leaves, she missed my birthday, Christmas, New Year's and so on. So I'm now 15 and it's been 7, almost 8 months.

by Analia Rangel
6 years ago

I never knew there were people just like me. I once thought this man was my father. My mom made me believe that, and when I was 11, my mom finally told me my dad left when I was a baby, and he doesn’t want me still to this day. I'm 13 now, and it hurts. The pain I feel never goes away. That's a time you thank the people who are really there for you.

by Northwest Province
9 years ago

My parents divorced when I was 10 years old and attending boarding school. My father abandoned my family, getting remarried six months later to a lady with four sons, replacing them with the two he had from my mother. Since the divorce my older brother and I tried to maintain a relationship with him, calling him, trying to visit etc with him always avoiding it. He would cancel our visitations with excuses of emergencies but then our friends would call us asking if we at the theme park as they just saw my dad and his family. Eventually after all the rejection we just stop trying. Initially it hit me hard, the first three years after his abandonment I got suspended from 2 different schools about 17 times with all my problems arising with my male teachers. As I entered high school I thought about it, identified my problem and fixed it, maintaining good grades and no problems till I finished. Now, I'll be 20 years old soon, and it's hard. I've not seen or heard from my dad in years, the last time I did was accidental, he happened to be attending the same funeral I did. It is really hard, his abandonment put a strain on our family, both my brother and I had to grow up much faster, I lost my childhood and today most people who meet me for the first time don't believe I'm only 19. Mom had to take on much more responsibility, being mother and father and coping with her own hurt as well as well as mine and my brothers. My brother was most affected, he loved my dad most and had a strong bond before my father abandoned us. My brother coped by spending most of his time away, with friends and others. Our family isn't like other families, normal. It's empty. I look and listen to my friends, seeing how much effort and time their fathers invest in them, how their fathers protect them, love them, guide them, advise them and look after them, it makes me remember my own dad, and how much he has taken away from me by abandoning us. Every time I'm in trouble, in danger, in difficulty, in situations where I would need a fathers guidance I think about him and it hurts. I resent my relatives from both my mom and dad's sides that are still on good terms with him. I have cut his mother out of my life, my mother's father out of my life and my mother's sisters out of my life because they are still on very good terms with my father regardless of the fact that he threw his children away. Family friends the same, those who associate with him I cut out of my life. I feel bad, vengeful, sad, angry and just a whole lot of negative emotions when I think about him. To end it all off, I am the mirror image of my bad, having all his physical features and character traits, wherever I go, people he knows or knew him, always remind me of that.

by A, Sweden
10 years ago

My dad abandoned me when I was 10 years old. He met a woman and decided to go and live with her in another country and everything crashed after that. At age 12 to 18 I started to cut myself, I tried to kill myself once, I used heavy drugs and drank alcohol every single weekend, trying to forget all those questions in my head, why did he leave me? Doesn't he love me? Wasn't I pretty enough? etc. Long story short, I am 18 years old now. I don't use drugs anymore, I stopped hurting myself, I drink alcohol barely twice a month. I still feel bad about it but at least I've learn not to be self-destructive. I have contact with him every now and then but his betrayal left me scars that I'll have to learn living with.

by Kate, Sydney
10 years ago

My grandpa left me when I was 14, he was my daddy. My real dad died before I was born, I never met him. But my grandpa was always there. Grandpa moved overseas with my aunty, uncle and her three children. He went for a three month holiday initially and has been living there for 6 years. I miss him so much, but I'm also so angry at him for abandoning me. He was the one that was supposed to be there for me. My cousins already had an awesome, loving father, and now they have two. I miss you grandpa, please come home.

by Charlie, Uk
10 years ago

I was 7 when my dad moved out, then when I was about 10 my big brother and the one I trust more than anyone went to live with him. I was 2 years without him living with my mum and her abusive boyfriend. Eventually dad and my bro got into a big fight and he came home, but they haven't talked since. Then he moved out to live with his friend because he couldn't stand mums boyfriend and left me on my own again. About two years ago when I was 14 on my birthday I had a big rant with him and I haven't heard of him since. I see my bro occasionally and my mum has been very depressed and overdosed. I'm feeling really depressed too but I can't admit it to anybody because I've had to stay strong for so long I feel like nobody wants to help me.

I like these little forums because I can let out my problems and know I won't be judged and I don't have to face anybody, if you are reading this I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking a minute to hear my story.

by Jody
7 years ago

I know it's 3 years ago that you wrote this comment, Charlie, but I just wanted to say that I hope you're doing ok, and I think I know how you feel. I have gone through a similar experience to you, and at 37 years old it still hurts me that I was unwanted. Chin up kiddo, we'll get through it!

by Sheffield
11 years ago

Father owned his own business and would leave the house early every morning. Finish around 5 and hit the pub. At 11 pm he'd return and argue with Mother. Repeat and you get the idea. And that's about it from what I remember from being 7 until I was 22. In the process we were encouraged to drink, smoke, and not talk about family problems. Vice solves everything apparently. Well, as I knew then and as I still know now, vice does not solve anything. And my mum is still in denial about this point, whilst dad ran away. It just diverts your attention from the core issues. And now all the problems are melting through the pores. My eldest sister is the worst off. She suffered with mental illness throughout it all, and can't deal with stress of any kind.

by London
11 years ago

People often say it hurts more when your "father" walks out on you at a young age. But this is not the case for me.
My dad left a year ago I am now 16. My life has been a psychological roller coaster ever since. Not knowing why he left or who's fault it was. When my mum was pregnant he was 100% sure that I was a boy and as soon as he found out I was a girl he neglected me. Often choosing my older sister and trying his best to avoid me. Things got so bad that we would constantly fight and as a result I'd leave with some sort of purple bruise or belt mark across my arms and legs. Looking back makes me wonder what I did to deserve such mental and physical abuse?. Some mental images will never leave my mind, him banging my mothers head against a door nob when I was 7.
I don't hate him nor have feelings towards him however I wish him all the best and pray to god that one day I shall forgive him . He was no "father" to me and I'm better of without him.

by Kayla
9 years ago

I kinda know how you feel. My father abused my mom, siblings and me. I'm 15 now. I always think it's my fault for him abusing us. When he and my mom planned to have me he wanted a boy not a girl. My mom divorced him and he tried to take us. They went to court and she got custody over us. To tell the truth I was happy that my little brother didn't have to go through what my older brother, little sister and I had to go through. I remember one time I was walking down our hallway, I didn't see him and he was holding a pot with pot roast in it. We ran into each other somehow and he started yelling at me for 'being in the way.' It spilled all over my back, down my arms and legs, I got a third degree burn and he just stood there yelling at me while I still had it all over me. To me he has never been my 'father.'

by Skye, Texas
11 years ago

I don't know if my father is alive or dead. He left the state when I was 16 and I am now 22 and don't know if he is alive or dead. I feel I am better off without him because all he ever did was cause me pain from his addiction to painkillers. It is really hard to accept that I will never again feel the love of my father.

by Brian, Us
11 years ago

My father abandoned me at age 5. He left the island saying he was going to look for work to help his family by flying to the mainland. I cried and begged him to stay but he said to not worry. He held me and my mother in his arms and promised, "Brian, we are a family. I will come back to you as soon as I can. I will never leave you guys. Ever." We even took a picture of that moment and saved it. Months turned into years and we lost contact. I'm now almost 18. About a year ago, my father found me on Facebook. Turns out, he got in to a lot of trouble and forgot about us. Including my little brother, who he has never seen before. He moved on and had four daughters. I got the chance to live with him. But each day was a nightmare. His wife's side of the family looked at me with suspicion and envy in their eyes. They despised my presence thinking I was there to have revenge. His wife hated me being around my dad, and my half siblings cursed me. Now I don't know how I feel anymore. Love? Or Hatred?

by Joy Davis, Bridgewater, NS
9 years ago

I know the feeling .... the feeling of being a "left over" when being introduced to the NEW family. The wanted family. I am nearly 58 years old, and the pain does not stop. Do I hate my Dad who left us, unwanted and discarded, when I was 4 years old? YES! I hate him and I loathe him. Do I love the daddy that I daydreamed, day after day, would come back to us? YES! I love him and I need him. Therein lies the problem. It's a love hate that knows no boundaries. That has no finish line. The two emotions are not meant to live side by side like this. It tears us. Twists us. I wish I had an answer, a solution. But more than 50 years in the exercise and I still don't have it. Other than this piece of golden advice. Do NOT feel like the one who is unworthy.

by Unloveddaughter
9 years ago

Your story hits so close to home to me. My heart is still broken. I also stood in the doorway. I am crying as I write this.
People tell me to not think about it, to think well, to forget the hurt, but is that even possible? Can I just cover up a broken heart?

by Tayiob, Nigeria
11 years ago

My father died 3 years ago, leaving an aching void in my life. In his life he was brimming over with vitality, love and a sense of humor which made him loved by all. His hoarse, solemn voice is still reverberating in the house when he would call for us every day to brief him on our daily achievements, worries and tidings. He was such a loving and caring father. He was our bulwark against the vicissitudes of life.

by Julia, Texas
11 years ago

My father abandoned me when I was a few months old. I only saw him when I went to his parents house during holidays but he never had much to do with me while I was there. He tried to start coming around when I was 12 but he was like a total stranger to me. I felt super uncomfortable around him. He is now married and they have 2 children together. A boy and girl. It makes me sad that he abandoned me but is very much in their lives. I don't have much to do with them since they live so far away but it doesn't make it any less hurtful.

by Andiswa Lembethe
11 years ago

I was 4 years old when my father stormed out of my life, I couldn't understand what went wrong. I loved and respected him from the core of my heart, each and every year when it my birthday I cry wondering if he still remember my birthday or knew my age at that time, but I always get this feeling that he has forgotten or he didn't care. I only know his surname and where he live, but I still love him, if only he knew.

by Brandon Andrews
11 years ago

I am using this poem of yours in an anthology for my class, its fits in perfectly with my theme of bad family.
I also want you to know, I know how you feel. I was living with my father for the past couple of years and the whole time, being neglected and mentally/emotionally abused by him and being left out because I'm not his girlfriend, I don't have a job, having privileges like drinks and food taken because I don't work. and being ignored when something is obviously wrong. I moved in with my mom but as I was moving in, I was with my Grandma for her final days and my father, knowing her and respecting her before I left, refused to pay respects and said these exact words to me: "I won't bother seeing you." then, my birthday, in the card he sent, it said "Happy birthday Boy" with something instead of "boy" scratched out. Then at Christmas, the card wasn't from him, but rather his company "From Calgary Patchworks, merry Christmas Brandon." That was the last straw for me, I'm done with him now.

by Petu
11 years ago

Well I wish I was you all. Well my story is different, my daddy was there for me growing up. He was there to abuse us physically and emotionally. I would cry every night when he started beating on my mom. I would ask my mom to run away with us to start a new life far from him. But my mom loved him too much and so she stayed. Now he's a sick man, always laying in bed. And my mom looks at me with teary eyes and says , "forgive him child and let's help him" and I say "Why should I care? Let him feel the pain he made us feel all these years" I just wish I never had a dad. And I truly mean it, my heart is full of hate and I curse him every day.

by Joy Davis, Bridgewater, NS
9 years ago

I replied to the post about the person being abandoned by their dad, because I can relate to it. I'm now responding to yours because I relate to it as well! A few short years after my dad disappeared into the sunset, my stepfather moved in. Much the same as your story. I guess, if nothing else, this means I can have empathy for two sets of circumstances? It's hard to get over this kind of thing, I guess what we end up doing is just getting through it. Hugs.

by Angelique, South Africa
12 years ago

I am a single mother of 2. This poem touched my heart. I am grateful to have been able to read it.

by Stephanie, Colombia
12 years ago

My Father left us before I was even born, but I've always asked myself why he did that! I'm 15 years old and it's hard to live with the fact that my father never asked for me, never tried to get in contact with me and that he simply never cared for me! I still cry about what has happened but life most move on.... I've always wanted a father who loves me and who is interested in me and who is around. Sadly I am not able to live that wonderful experience! =(

by Sapna
12 years ago

I have been lucky to have a good dad but this poem did touch my heart as I thought of my son. my hubby is having an affair and in spite of him promising to leave her, he still continues to be in touch with her. I can well imagine, perhaps, one day my son will go thru same and will be writing a similar poem.

by Bethany
12 years ago

My Daddy wanted to abort me, I finally met him when I was 18 years old, my first daughter was 4 months old, and he is still never around. I always wished I had a father to love. He is missing out on one daughter and lots of grandchildren!!

by Liz
13 years ago

wow. My Daddy Left Without Saying Goodbye. I never Remembered Him Growing Up And I watch home videos of My First birthday and he wasn't there? my mom said he used to live with us.. but I don't remember? I wish I did cuz I would like to at least know what if feels like to be a daddys little girl? all my friends have dads why cant I? I've seen him once.. in Ensenada Mexico.. he told me according to my mom I'm his... not something you wanna hear when your 9. and now my quinceanera (15) is coming up and still no dad to see me become a women. thanks dad:/

by Auckland New Zealand
14 years ago

Wow this is true. My dad walked out on me when I was 1 and a half and did not say good bye. I am now 16 and I have only seen him once since and I only found him from a program called missing pieces and I have only heard from him a couple of times saying that he had two more kids. Ily daddy.

by Shelby
14 years ago

My dad left when I was only 2 weeks old he left for my step mom had 3 kids with her and left her, I love my step mom I wont lie I really do but my dad left me so many times and everytime I was there like last summer when I was 12 he left and I was crying yelling his name if only I had my dad in my life just maybe I wouldn't be doing the things I am now, I have to say something wrong and horrible to get him to talk to me even though it's him yelling he still talks to me then.

by danielle
15 years ago

my daddy walked out of my life and never took a chance to say goodbye and almost every night I cry myself to sleep listing to the song he said was ours and every time my mom sees me she says boy you look like your daddy and I'm only 11 =(