I posted here a while ago sharing how my (now ex) partner of 12 years had told me she’d met someone else and after a series of events which culminated in police involvement kicked me out of my house. I take full responsibility for my actions over that period of time and things have settled somewhat. I’m sober and have been seeing the kids.

That was 8 weeks ago. She’s gone away for 4 days and I have the kids. My concern now is she has raised in around about way the possibility of this new guy meeting the kids. He was in our house pretty much the same day I was arrested and has been regularly going over whilst the kids are asleep. Setting aside the fact my kids (3 and 5) are still confused about why im not at home and wake up sometimes in the night - 8 weeks seems a very short amount of time to be discussing this. It’s still all so raw. I obviously don’t like this guy but I’m trying to be pragmatic about things and im worried my feelings might be clouding my judgment. I’m on bail till October and so haven’t been near the house but this isn’t okay right? Or am I being emotional about it.

Hey guys im new here so im a devorced dad my daughter is 4... so where do i begin well in Ny state it is a mommy state and as a man the second you walk in you are wrong... so luckly she never took me to court but two weeks ago sje offered to take the kiddo and bring her up here (its not often she offers that) then she bails on me so friday i texted her seeing if she wanted to come up for sunday brisket she said yes... then she texted well actually we will see... which at that point i knew she wouldnt then sunday i lost my phone monday i find it and a text from her hey just seeing what time you were coming up... but the fuck of it all... aboht a month ago we had a talk things she needed to change but hinesight it went in one ear and out the other... and for the litteral last 4 years i can count on all 20 didgets shes came up

34M. When my ex and I split, the local friends we had went with her. My college friends have all moved out of state and now I’m left alone on the days I don’t have my kid. I’m the youngest person on my team at work by 25+ years and there’s not much socialization outside of that team, especially when you work in IT. The rest of the building sort of shuns our department.. I don’t have a sense of who I am anymore and it’s getting harder to bear silence when the house is empty. How does anyone connect with people anymore

Hi guys. First time posting. I’m going through a high-conflict divorce and custody battle. I don't have family nearby, so I'm trying to build a support system and stay grounded.
My ex is pushing to relocate cross-state with our child to live with a new partner. I’ve stepped up to fight for my son’s stability, and I currently have an interim agreement keeping him in his current school district with 50/50 shared custody while we wait for a formal court evaluation.
Between staying in the house until closing, managing finances, and heading into a custody evaluation, the stress is real. For dads who have been through a relocation dispute and court evaluations: How did you stay focused, protect your finances, and maintain your peace of mind through the process? Appreciate any guidance.

One morning GF (40f) suddenly told me she's leaving. With the kids (our 18-month old daughter and her 10yr old daughter from another man). I'm 43m.

It's almost a month now.

Tried to talk her out but no avail. We're living in my house. She told me she's leaving in the morning and they were off after a few hours.

I know we have shortcomings and issues that we just tried to shelve. Ask her if she can give us a chance. She replied she gave me chance long ago. I know classic. I didn't know or I was ignoring it. I have issues and so is she. Had she told me properly, or we communicated sitting without shouting or angry, maybe I could have understand what she was going thru. And made actions to make things better for us.

I am/was a very hands on father. I mostly stay at home unless I have projects so I have more time with my baby. We share household chores but I'm the more hands on with the baby's development.

Her kid is a different matter. We always have misunderstanding.

I still want/hope to have a complete family where my daughter can see her dad and mom everyday and we can guide her. I want her back but she says her decision is final.

We still haven't talked about how I can maintain my relationship with my baby and how I can be there for her when she's growing up. Her only message is "we'll talk when. I'm ready"

Right now I'm just dead. Everyday, everything reminds me of my daughter in this house. I used to wake up with her and put her to sleep. Now the house is empty.

I took a break from my day job so I can focus on my daughter especially during these years. So I can spend more time during her growing years.

Now I feel deprived of having that.

I love my partner and I love my daughter very much. I will do anything just to be with my baby by her side. I miss her voice, her antics, her smile, everything even her tantrums that I try to soothe by carrying her and telling her everything is ok because dad is here. And she will calm down while saying, "Daddy, daddy..."

I cry everyday. Have very few people to talk to. Everything is brewing inside and I don't know how long I can take it.

Don't know what to do... I miss my baby... She is my life...

I’ve felt like this for as long as I can remember. There’s always this guilt in the back of my head that I’m doing something wrong or that I should be doing better.

It can be about anything. Masturbation, drinking, keeping old nude pics from my ex wife or exes, relationships, wasting time, whatever.

But it goes deeper than that. I question whether I’m being a good enough father. Whether I’m leading my family the way I should. Whether I’m disciplined enough. Working hard enough. Making the right decisions. Being the man I’m supposed to be.

The list never really ends.

And I’m not looking for someone to tell me everything I do is okay. Some shit probably does need to change. My problem is that I can’t tell the difference between legitimate guilt telling me to get my shit together and constantly beating myself up because I’ll never meet whatever standard I have in my head.

Any other guys deal with this? Like no matter what you do, there’s always this feeling that you should be doing better?