When you become a parent you give up everything for your children. They become your existence and what everything you do in your life is for. You try to prepare them for the day when they leave the nest and go out on their own. This weekend I unexpectedly had to go through that pain.

On Friday my daughter dropped the bomb on me that her and my grandson Zander were moving to Utah to start her life with her boyfriend, who is Zander's dad. I have always anticipated this could happen but you are never really prepared. I am keeping Zander for another week and then driving him out there. I have cried pounds of tears over this but know it is what she wants. All a parent wants in life is for their kids to be happy and taken care of. I have faith that will all happen.

My daughter Vanessa is a grown 22 year old woman but will always be my little girl. There is something about the bond of a father and his daughter. I fell in love with her the second I held her in my arms. I loved her first and always will. We would always laugh together and watch movies and just enjoy smiling together. She has been my dear friend and buddy for 22 years and now she will be wonderful mother and provider. She has had some great models to learn from in her mother and grandma.

Vanessa, I hope you find the same happiness and comfort in family that I always have. I know

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that when I was your age I too moved away. I could not have succeeded in life like I have if I didn't leave my hometown. I had to go away to become what I needed to be and I understand that it may be the same for you. I have all the confidence in the world that you are going to be great and provide all that Zander needs. I know that a happy you is a better you. I cannot imagine how hard it was to try to raise a child as a single mother and having to do it in front of your parents. Being a parent is hard enough but to have to learn how to be a mom and have all your success and failures seen by us had to be hard. I know you have not been happy for a couple years now but I see how happy you are now. Sometimes in order to get something back you have to let it go. I feel we are going to be closer now then ever. I respect you for who you are who you are trying to be. I will always be here for you no matter what. Good luck my baby girl. I love you with all my heart and will always be here for you. You are and always will be my little girl.

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