Are You a Fatherless Daughter?

A father's love provides a blanket of security that his daughter treasures for a lifetime. There is sweet anticipation of waiting to hear his footsteps as he enters the room; it is the musty smell of his work boots as he places them by the door. It is the strength of his arms as he lifts you in the air, and without a care of danger, you giggle with unsecured freedom, assured he would not drop you. That is your daddy. You are his girl. 

Am I Daddy’s Girl? is a heartwarming story of a young girl who grows up without the presence of her father. Take a journey with the main character as she narrates her life from infancy to adulthood, sharing loving thoughts toward her dad as she matures. For the young girl that still longs for her father’s love, author, Melanie Lightbourn-Rowe, offers hope and healing in these beautifully illustrated pages. 

My father never rushed to go anywhere. Growing up in the Bahamas, one learns the art of slowing down and simply chillin'. I recall childhood moments as my siblings and I sat patiently awaiting his arrival home.  The car slowly turned through the corner, and my father took what seemed like hours to step out of it and sludged his way to the front door. He took his time finding his swim trunks, and although we lived a 10-minute walk from the beach, it always took 40 minutes to get there. He patiently made his way to the bubbling waves, and then plunged into the cold, salt blasted sea. 

I could not swim; I remember grabbing on to his neck, afraid the masters of the underworld would claim me as prey. As I screamed for dear life, his voice calmed me. His constant reassurance of "Mel, I gat you!" was all I needed to continue trying. When I finally broke free from the comfort of his neck, I would sink into a gaping water hole, and he would catch me. He always caught me. When the kids at school made fun of me, he affirmed my beauty. When I graduated from high school, the pride in his face showed me I could reach for more. At my college graduation, he said, "Gal, ya smart!" He was there for every milestone, quietly nodding his approval, openly cheering from the sidelines. When I lost him, a part of my world stopped spinning. My breaths were no longer even, and my dreams were void of color. My father was my everything, for I am a daddy's girl.  I hope that there is a man in your life that shows you how special you truly are, for we should all be bold enough to ask, "Am I Daddy's Girl?" and hear a resounding, "Absolutely!"