I have been humbled.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

For the first time in my life I have been humbled enough to bring me to tears. By my fourteen year old niece, that along with her 2 sisters and mom, is currently living with us. She asked me if I would adopt her last night. Her biological dad is a piece of filth that may talk to her once every 2 years. Her former step father, molested her a year ago, and she called him out on it. The family has no income coming in until her mom finds work. Child support and "justice" are both tied up in the justice system. That is not for discussion on here or at all. I'm just giving background, and honestly could care less to hear any opinions on the justice system or government. If thats all you have to comment about them stay off my post. Cause frankly i DO NOT want to hear it. Anyway. I'm doing all I can to help support them as well as my 4 children and my wife and I. It is difficult, however, I have been extremely successful at it thus far. 

For her, to ask me this brought me to tears. She said it would be awesome cause she would be my adopted daughter. Then proceeded to explain in a manner in which only a child can and brought me to tears. I am no saint, I am far far from a saint. i am a arrogant, conceded, biker with a loud mouth and very extreme views on various things. I have my vice(s) that keep me going. I am a sinner that is a total mockery of life and society. I live my life on the outskirts of society and subscribe to the laws of my brother bikers. My group of friends are some of the roughest most hardcore people this small country town has ever seen. My appearence is enough to scare most people away. I try to be good. It just doesn't always work out for me. Yet somehow I'm good enough, for this child to ask me to be the father figure in her life? Somehow behind this rough, tatted up exterior, through the beard and piercings, this child has found something that I myself can't see? What have I done that would allow me to have a compliment and honor like this bestowed upon me?

Whether, we legally adopt her or not is honestly up in the air. However, I told her that regardless she is family and always will be such. If she wants me in her life as that, then I will happily do so, be it "officially" or not. So I guess my family has grown again. I truly am blessed for reasons that are unknown to me. 

 

Also, I'm coming back home next week. I'm dragging up on Friday as of now. I'm staying and partying with my biker brothers at the bike rally at my campground this weekend. (That's my 2 day vacation for the year) Afterwards I shall be back home for a little bit. 

[BrianinMD]

We all have vices and demons, that statement by a child proves the man you are. 

 

Standing O for you!!!

[deaknh03]

That's awesome buddy...just please, I beg of you, let someone else teach her grammar.

[Fishing Rhino]

MY take is that you put up that gruff and tough exterior to hide a kind and caring heart.  A defense mechanism if you will.  

 

She has obviously seen through that façade.

 

Good for you, and good for her.

 

Count your blessings, and be thankful that she was able to touch your heart.

[.ghoti.]

Jacob, if a teenage girl has asked to be a part of your family, you, sir, are a hell of lot closer to being a saint than you would have us believe.

 

Now, can we please talk about the government?

[slonezp]

Good on you. 

[tipptruck1]

1 hour ago, Fishing Rhino said:

MY take is that you put up that gruff and tough exterior to hide a kind and caring heart.  A defense mechanism if you will.  

 

She has obviously seen through that façade.

 

Good for you, and good for her.

 

Count your blessings, and be thankful that she was able to touch your heart.

I don't think she has seeing through his facade. She just see the real him. I am the same way. I have been hurt, and screwed over a lot in my life. Because of this.I have developed four differnt personalitys. Work sees the some what serious one. Family sees the one that is quite, and only says things to make them happy. The general public sees the rough and tuff one. While my close friends, and the old lady see the real me. 

 

 

As for adopting the girl. I cant say if you should or not. I will say this though. I have a famlily that other then a brother. I am not related to. That i thought for 12 years was my family. They took me as one of their own. When they didnt have to. They never adpoted me, and I still view them as famliy. 

[Oregon Native]

Through the "Eyes of a Child"....awesome.  Ya did good.

[TOXIC]

Consider yourself blessed.  

[roadwarrior]

Raider,

You can leave the basement now. 

 

[Darren.]

Cheers to that, mate! Heck of a humbling thing to hear a teen ask.

[12poundbass]

You have made an impact on her that will last well past your time on this earth. I would guess she had all but written men off (I would've). You step up to the plate and help heal those negative emotions. What you've done my friend will hopefully have an effect for generations. All the best to you and your expanding family.

 

 

BTW bikers aren't that tough and scary. I have an MC an 1/8 from me. They cried when Friends was canceled. Biggest softies and nicest guys. 

 

[lonnie g]

what an honor! you sound like a heck of a good guy to me. I travel thru bama going to lay lake multiple times a year , and would like to meet you some time. i'm glad for her and you as well. I call that blessed!

[Redlinerobert]

Raider, kids see things for what they are.  You're a good dude. 

[Raider Nation Fisher]

I'm still kind of shocked by it. I try an do what I can for her as best I can. We won't legally adopt her. Doesn't really matter to me and my wife though. Family is family. Sometimes it takes a village to raise a child. There's a old biker saying. Blood doesn't make you family. Loyalty makes you family. I guess that counts here. It will definitely be an adventure, that's for sure. Much like most of my life is I guess. I'm off to bed for a few hours now. 

[Master Bait'r]

To give your all in order to provide for and protect a child- no matter whose it is- and to earn their love and adoration is the single most rewarding thing a person can do with their life.  

 

Good on you Raider, and cheers to anyone out there working hard and making tough decisions to provide for those who count on us. 

[Boomstick]

Grats. You clearly did something right because she looks up to you. You don't need to be perfect, but she sees you as someone she can look up to.

[deep]

You're a good man Raider.

 

P.S. Any new tattoos or piercings?

[Catt]

I raised 3 sons that are not mine while I never adopted them all 3 call me Dad & call their biological father just a sperm donor.

 

Anyone can father a child but it takes a real man to be a Dad!

 

Raider  

[MichaelCopeland]

On 9/22/2017 at 1:14 AM, Raider Nation Fisher said:

I'm still kind of shocked by it. I try an do what I can for her as best I can. We won't legally adopt her. Doesn't really matter to me and my wife though. Family is family. Sometimes it takes a village to raise a child. There's a old biker saying. Blood doesn't make you family. Loyalty makes you family. I guess that counts here. It will definitely be an adventure, that's for sure. Much like most of my life is I guess. I'm off to bed for a few hours now. 

You're absolutely right. Blood doesn't make you family. Loyalty, and don't forget honor and respect, makes you family. I have several brothers from other mothers as well as sisters from other misters that would do whatever they could in their power for me and I for them. Regardless of your rugged lifestyle, you've apparently been loyal to her, honorable to her and respected her. She in turn has honored and respected you with asking you to adopt her. She's already your family now. Don't need no paperwork or lengthy processes to say so. You feel it in your heart and so does she. That's all that matters. You are very blessed and I'm happy for you and her. I'll keep y'all in my prayers that everything works out for the best and that the tough times be limited and easily overcome. There's something really special brewing there and all you should do is cherish it and keep doing what you're doing, your best. Way to step up, that's total loyalty, honor and respect! 

3 hours ago, Catt said:

I raised 3 sons that are not mine while I never adopted them all 3 call me Dad & call their biological father just a sperm donor.

 

Anyone can father a child but it takes a real man to be a Dad!

 

Raider  

Amen brother, Amen! ?

[XpressJeff]

Congratulations brother!

 

There is clarity in a child's eyes!

[OCdockskipper]

21 minutes ago, MichaelCopeland said:

...Blood doesn't make you family...

Actually it does.  Doesn't mean you necessarily want to hang around those you share genetics with, but they are by definition "family".  

 

Blood can make emotions run to extremes.  For example, if someone acts like an idiot, it doesn't bother me much, but if my younger sister acts the same way, it drives me bananas.  Something about not wanting believe that someone with the same genes as you can be so dumb or act so outrageous.

[MichaelCopeland]

28 minutes ago, OCdockskipper said:

Actually it does.  Doesn't mean you necessarily want to hang around those you share genetics with, but they are by definition "family".  

 

Blood can make emotions run to extremes.  For example, if someone acts like an idiot, it doesn't bother me much, but if my younger sister acts the same way, it drives me bananas.  Something about not wanting believe that someone with the same genes as you can be so dumb or act so outrageous.

That's absolutely,  technically and genetically right. All I'm saying is regardless of blood or not, true family are the ones that stick together through thick and thin. Not the ones that say stuff like the only reason we're family is because of blood. Family takes care of each other. So what I said is right too. Blood don't make you family necessarily, it makes you related.

[OCdockskipper]

fair enough

[N Florida Mike]

Thanks for sharing this special time in your life with us.Thanks for stepping up for your niece. We need more real men to do what youre doing.

I have an adopted daughter and son that are now grown. I always wanted another daughter for some reason and had the name picked out ( Mackayla ) My daughter then had a daughter and named her Mackayla.( She didnt know that was what I would have named another daughter ) So now they are living with us and she is like a daughter to me,since her dad rarely visits. We fish, take walks, do hikes, swim,play sports etc. And I got her brother in the deal too. So never a dull moment at our house.Sounds like at your house too,Raider.