The excerpt captures a tense, mediated conversation between Renee (the father), Jordan (the daughter), and a third‑party mediator (Speaker C). The core dispute centers on Renee’s failure to attend Jordan’s graduation, which Jordan attributes to his lack of transportation and a strained relationship. Renee argues he attempted to reach out via 60 text messages and sought a ride from Jordan, citing his inability to drive due to a child‑support‑related license suspension. Jordan accuses Renee of lying, of blaming her step‑family, and of repeatedly cutting off communication, even demanding that Renee delete her number. Speaker C repeatedly tries to steer the dialogue toward listening and accountability, highlighting the emotional pain on both sides. The dialogue reveals deep‑seated resentment, broken communication, legal/financial constraints (child support, license suspension), and a yearning for reconnection, with Jordan demanding that her father “come see your kids” after a seven‑year absence.
Chapters
My daughter told me December, don't text her. Her number should be deleted in my phone.
Because you did not show up to my graduation. Still. I told you, if you did not show up.
60 text messages, regardless of what she said, I still reached out and tried.
But what she said.
Even though she said this ain't what I want.
I need you to hear this because the language that your daughter is saying.
She wanted me to be at her graduation.
Show up.
And I definitely understand that. And again, I was told my wife can't come to the graduation. As a man and a father, I'm doing my best to show up on my own.
This doesn't help.
All I needed you to do for me was answer the phone and just say I'm at graduation rehearsal.
How can I answer? I have stuff to do. So now I know you. Why are you just calling armies and you keep saying this? Cause you didn't show up because you didn't have no rides.
I was trying to reach out to you for transportation to make it a two hour ride from where the airport was to your graduation. That was it. And I needed two minutes of your time to say yes, dad, I can give you a ride or no.
Renee, Renee, Renee, Renee, Renee, Renee called me and said hey, "Ray Ray, I need you to answer that." Even those excuses you give him right there, and I'm saying this as a third party who wants to see this heal, those excuses that are not helping this. You can't put it on a child to say, "You couldn't pick me up." I'm not trying to put anything on her.
I just want her to own what she did in that situation. You are blaming me.
But she didn't need to own anything. She's a child.
How can I answer when I'm at graduation rehearsal?
Hold on, I'm gonna talk right here.
She's in college. She's no longer a child. She was fully aware of her actions. And you told me that. That's why I had to get her I'm not a child, I don't want deals.
You just met in the text messages that I only have 4 tickets for my mom that's been there for one, my grandma, Shanai, and I had one for you, you met her, she couldn't come. Who is she? I don't know her. I don't care about her because I want one with you. I don't even have a relationship with you.
And you sit here and bash me? Are you sitting here bashing me on this couch? I didn't bash you.
Are you serious?
I did not bash you. I was definitely okay that my wife wouldn't come. What I wanted my daughter to do was give her father a ride because he doesn't have a license. Because of her child support. So how else was I supposed to get there?
You think that I put you on child support? Ain't got shit to do with me.
You say you did, it's a statement of yours. No, it's just little lies. Hey Jordan, you've been lying to me. That was it, I asked for a little help.
I'm tired of the fucking lies. All you do is lie throughout the whole relationship with you.
We're here for what?
You lie. Because I want you to own up and listen to your daughter.
I'm listening to you, but everything I'm saying to you, you're telling me I'm lying.
Are you really listening to me though?
Yeah, and I'm hearing you tell me I'm lying. I just sat here and told you I'm sorry for my mistakes, but let you tell it, I'm lying.
Answer this, why did I text you and say I don't want you to have my number no more? Answer that, why did I say that? Oh, you can't answer that, can you?
What you said was because your new family of your stepdaughter and your wife, that's what you said.
All you do is make it about your wife and your stepdaughter.
I didn't make any of that conversation about them. I said, I'm buying you a gift for Christmas, what do you want? You said, I don't want nothing, give it to your wife and your stepdaughter. So I didn't make it about them, you did. You threw them in that conversation.
Kids who don't want their dad. You sitting here alive, people don't have they daddy. And I want mine. I want mine.
I am sorry, Alon. What do you want me to do?
Come see your kids.
I'm sorry.
Come see your kids. I have, more than once. 7 years, 7 years, and when you came, you came with her. Let's be for real.
That was my only way to get there. How was I gonna get there? If I physically do not have a driver's license because child support is taking it, how can I travel when I can't get in a car?
Renee, this is not your ex-wife. This is your daughter. It's not. Two things. First, I can see the breakdown in communication when it comes to you and your daughter, and it's up to you to be better in that communication. She has her pain, she has her experiences, and as a little girl, she needs your help to heal that. But you can't match her. And secondly, it's unfortunate right now, but brother, I gotta tell you, you're wrong for your train of thought, and it's just the truth.
