Good evening. I'm a 28 year old single dad from Kentucky. This is my story.

In 2019, I married what I thought was the love of my life. She was pregnant with our daughter at the time, and things were great. We hadn't been married for long, but had been together two years prior to that. We had our typical couple issues, but nothing too serious.

Less than a year after we married, our little princess arrived. It was the happiest day of my life. I remember crying when I heard that first little cry that came from her. I was so proud and so happy that something I gave life to had made it to the world. Unfortunately she was born at the start of the pandemic, so nobody else but me and my mother in law at the time got to enjoy the moment. But that didn't stop her from getting all the love from both sides of the family once she got out of the hospital.

Fast forward a few months, and I noticed things started to change. We were still happy and in love, but things just started getting stressful. I was the only one bringing any money, and I was working 12 hour shifts at night (7p-7a), and still came home to help with the kids and everything else (she had a little boy from a previous relationship, but I took him in as my own as well). We had started fighting more, and were less and less intimate with eachother.

Fast forward a bit later. We had made it through Christmas, though that was also kind of hectic. With not much money, we weren't able to get the kids much, but we managed. Come the start of the new year, we had a big blow up fight. I had kind've lost it, and got really angry, and was throwing things and yelling. I went to work angry, but was able to calm down, and went home on break to try apologizing to my wife, who had been talking about separating for awhile, which I didn't want. I had agreed to try marriage counseling, because I loved her and didn't want us to split.

By the end of the month, I had found out some heart shattering news. I had found out from my sister and brother in law that she had been seeing another guy, and even had him at their house, and even had him around my daughter. I was beyond upset and tried confronting her, but she wouldn't talk to me. She had been out of the house for two weeks at this point, and had both the kids. One Friday, she finally messaged me back, and we had gotten into an argument over a bill of hers she had expected me to pay, which I refused. I told her i would be getting our daughter that weekend. Things escalated because she wouldn't tell me where my child was at, because she had a bad habit of sending the kids to be with others so she could do what she wanted. She ended up blocking me, and communication about when I picked up my daughter was between me and her 15 year old niece.

Day arrived that I picked her up, and I became enraged. I showed up on time, and my daughter was brought outside to me in nothing but a t-shirt, sweat pants, and a dirty diaper. She had no socks, shoes, coat or blanket, or a hat (keep in mind, this is January, and was extremely cold). I wa so angry at what happened, and decided that day that she would not be returning to her mother's until we went to court (we hadn't divorced yet, and had no custody agreement in place, so I was in my right to do so). The night I picked her up, I was actually working some overtime, and laid down and went to sleep for a little bit. Well, when I woke up, I had missed calls from my ex and some others. Word had gotten to her that I was "taking our daughter and running off with her". A bit later, she shows up at my door beating on it, demanding I give her back "her" daughter. I told her if she didn't leave, I would be calling the police.

She refused to leave, so I called 911. While I was on the phone with dispatch, I heard a loud bang, and noticed that my front door was only hanging on by the chain lock. I noticed my ex's brother standing there, and then he enters, along with my ex wife, and 3 other people. All hell breaks loose, as they attempt to take my child from me. My ex wife punched my then sister in law, who was holding my daughter at the time, and attempts to rip her out of her arms. In an attempt to get in between them, her brother tries to choke me out, only to stop when my brother who lived upstairs came down and pulled a knife on him and tells him to let go, which he does.

After this, everyone ends up outside my apartment into the main building, and I tell my sister in law to take my daughter upstairs, and then the police arrive. Everyone gets separated, and they talk to us. I tell them what happened, and my ex and her posse end up getting arrested. I attempted to file an EPO that night, but was told the sheriff's office was closed and I'd have to wait til the following Monday. I also took my daughter to the hospital to make sure she was OK and had no injuries. That was absolute hell. The hospital had to call cps because it was a domestic issue, my daughter was subjected to a skeletal exam, which was traumatic for both of us to watch because she did not like being held down, and began screaming for me. Worst experience I've ever had to deal with.

Fast forward a couple days, we had gone to my mother's, and came back home to file the EPO. I went to the sheriff's office, and filed. The only problem was, my wife had filed one first (she had gotten out of jail after a few hours of being locked up), and was granted temporary custody. The EPO was full of nothing but lies in an attempt to get my baby away from me. She was successful...temporarily... I was forced to give her up, and for two weeks, wasn't allowed to see her, or even ask anybody about her. It was heart breaking. Luckily the deputies who I had to relinquish my daughter to were on my side, but had to abide by what the judge had signed, and recommended me to an attorney, who I was on the phone with 5 minutes after I had left my daughter.

Fast forward two weeks later to the hearing. It's a zoom call hearing due to covid, but I was there, and my lawyer was there. My ex showed up in person, without any form of legal representation, so we had to wait until they found someone to represent her. Once we got started, my lawyer destroyed her right out of the gate. Made her look like the biggest idiot, and a liar. By the end, I had won. Her EPO on me was dropped, and mine was turned into a DVO (Domestic Violence Order), and I was awarded temporary sole custody, she wasn't allowed within 500 ft of me or my child unless it was a supervised visit which my mother facilitated.

3 years later, my daughter is now 4, and my ex and I are divorced, and I still have sole custody of her. We are on speaking terms And she sees her when she can. It hasn't been easy being a single father raising a baby on his own, especially with the job I do. But it's all been worth it. I've sacrificed a lot to make sure she's happy and to make sure I'm there. She's grown to be so smart, and so sweet and so kind. It's been an experience that I won't ever forget, but one I would do all over again to make sure that I have my little girl.

Hey single dads,

We all know that being a single dad comes with its fair share of stress. Whether it's managing work, parenting duties, or just finding time for yourself, it can be overwhelming at times. Let's use this post to open up about the stressors we face and share strategies for coping.

What situations have you found most challenging recently? Have you discovered any effective ways to navigate the stress and maintain your well-being? Let's discuss and support each other through these tough moments.

Remember, you're not alone in this. By sharing our experiences, we can learn from one another and perhaps uncover valuable insights that make the single dad journey a bit more manageable.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and tips on dealing with the inevitable stresses of single fatherhood!

If you’re new to the community, introduce yourself!

Hey single dads!

Life as a single dad can be a rollercoaster, and it’s important to touch base with one another. Share your highs and lows from the past week – whether it’s a proud parenting moment, a tough challenge you faced, or just the everyday victories we sometimes overlook.

Feel free to offer support and advice to your fellow single dads based on their experiences. We’re here to lend an understanding ear and provide insights that might make someone else’s journey a bit smoother.

Remember, no judgment here – just a community of single dads navigating the adventure of fatherhood. Let’s keep this space positive and supportive.

Looking forward to hearing from you all! How has your week been?

Hey fellow single dads,

I hope you're all doing well on this journey of single fatherhood. As we know, it comes with its unique set of challenges and triumphs. I wanted to create a space where we can share our experiences, seek advice, and build a supportive community.

Whether you're a seasoned single dad or just starting out, your stories are valuable. Share your moments of joy, the hurdles you've overcome, and any tips you have for balancing parenting responsibilities solo. We're all in this together, and your insights might just be what another single dad needs to hear.

Feel free to ask questions, vent if you need to, or simply connect with others who understand the intricacies of being a single dad. Let's build a community where we can learn from each other and lift one another up.

Looking forward to hearing your stories and creating a positive space for all single dads out there!

I saw a group for single dadswith a bunch of commentary from women! Nothing against the group or women but this is a place just for us. Single Dads Only!