My daughter’s name is Samota Blessing Onibuje. She is 4 years old. She was born 2 months premature on April 23, 2010. My daughter was born in jail, in a West Virginia correctional institution. Her mother was told to call her “Blessing” by a corrections officer. Her mother is diabetic and suffered complications during her birth.
Because I was so hooked on alcohol, my role as a father was reduced to financial support only. Because of my problems with alcohol, her mother wouldn’t let me near my daughter.
I let my daughter down chronically. I never took her to daycare or picked her up at the end of the day. I never took her out. I never bought her toys. This was when I found out about unconditional love. I noticed no matter how far down the ladder I fell, my daughter’s love for me never wavered. My state of mind and my daughter’s continued love for me, even though I was messing up.
My daughter inspired me to make some big changes in my life. I stopped drinking. And I am taking care of my daughter now. She is currently estranged from her mother, who I haven’t seen since she was three. Her mother is now 23.
So what are my duties as a father? To read to my daughter to help her maintain her reading curve. To nurture her. Support her. To be there for her each and every way. This of course also involves financial issues. Not having a job, my only income has been Street Sense. I have found out that the most expensive things are clothes, toys, trips and of course my time. My responsibilities overwhelm me at times, but I intend to stay strong. I understand that my little doll baby did not ask to be brought into this world, me and her mother made that conscious decision, so now she’s here and we are eternally grateful.
It has been seven months since I had a drink, yet I am still having problems with self-acceptance and self-esteem.
I love the kisses and hugs I get from my daughter. I like the “thank yous” she gives me when I do things for her. I like her smiles, I love her little rascally personality and character and the way she dances. My daughter is my life. She saved it. Thank you.
