Poems of a Recovering Addict: A letter from my daughter

When Kelsey Yost was still deep in her addiction, it was her daughter who often was forgotten. Kelsey wrote this poem as she began to grapple with recovery.

Dear Mommy,

I thought you had forgotten me

After I came with Grammy, you’d go weeks without calling me

But I started to miss you even before I left

I’d miss you and worry when I couldn’t wake you up

How I’d play and color, get bored and stay hungry until lunch

When you woke up, I was always so happy until I realized you weren’t really getting up for me

It wasn’t until your friend stopped by that you even really noticed me

I’d eat, play, or watch tv

And wait til you came out of the bathroom to finally spend some time with me

It started to make me think you never really wanted me

That you cared for me only because you had to 

And inside there was no love for me

But Grammy has taught me that this is the way your sickness made you act

And you’re getting better so you can properly care for me

I love you no matter what

And I know your sickness just made your love for me hard to see

I can’t wait until I can come back home 

So we can show each other just how much we both have grown

From,

Your daughter who loves you unconditionally

On the PULSE

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