Letter

Hello Joyce

My name is Daniel MacPherson, but everyone calls me Twix. I’m a young Nishnawbe from Aundeck-Omni-Kaing First Nation, Manitoulin Island. I saw your December 10th issue. There was an article that caught my attention: Closer or Farther Apart? I would like to say that I understand where the column’s writer coming from. Maybe not actually, but I was raised in Children’s Aid all my life. From the time I was 2 years old to age 16 I went through a lot of different homes and lives.

And right now at this point in my life, I’m raising my one-year-old daughter on my own. It’s not an easy thing. I dropped out of school. I started doing anything to get money to give my daughter everything she wants and needs. I’m only 18, and out of everything I’ve done in my life, the hardest thing is trying to raise my daughter on my own. I want her to have everything I never had while growing up, but it seems that the more I try, the more it gets harder. I messed up. I tried going the easy way and selling drugs and stealing to get money, but it never paid.

I’m sitting in jail away from my daughter who I love and miss so much. She’s too young to understand what’s going on right now, but sooner or later she’ll know. I’ve got to thank my grandma who is watching my little girl right now. I have a secret that I’m hiding from my little girl, which I never want to tell her because I know it will break her little heart. And that is: shortly after my daughter was born, her mother committed suicide, which left me heartbroken and alone. I’ll never be able to love anyone the same way again. But one thing that bugs me the most is this question: how do I tell my little girl?

I soon will be released from here. I know it is not easy for single mothers to raise kids on their own and I respect any woman who can do it on their own. I know it can get hard, but you have to remember to look at your child and remember that they love us no matter what. I respect this young woman for sharing her story in your magazine. It gave me the courage to share my story with you. I would appreciate it if you would share my story with others.

Thank You
Daniel MacPherson