Parenting is the biggest adventure you can set in motion. By becoming parents you are agreeing to give a priority to your children, over yourself. The sacrifice of becoming a parent is about making a better life for our kids.

As parents, our relationship may not work out. In divorce, we’ve got an opportunity to remain connected as a cooperative co-parent. Our role as divorced parents is to support our kids with less concern for ourselves or our disappointment in our ex-partner. It is important to leave your anger and frustration behind, and pay attention to your kids and their needs.

Divorce, Depression, and the Puzzlement of My Ex-wife

I hope she's happy. It doesn't seem like that's the case, but what do I know? I only know that she's shirking on her responsibility to be an available parent to my daughter. That's okay, I guess. That's where I step in as an available parent.

Continue ReadingDivorce, Depression, and the Puzzlement of My Ex-wife

Dear Ex, I Will Forgive You, But I Will Never Forget What You Did

I don't think my ex-wife or my ex-girlfriend derived any positive benefits from attacking me. And perhaps, their momentary feeling of superiority and vindictiveness was worth the price. But both these women attacked me and took actions to hurt me and my future prospects.

Continue ReadingDear Ex, I Will Forgive You, But I Will Never Forget What You Did

Nine Years Into My Divorce: Finding My Single Parenting Superpower

While my co-parenting efforts have been shunned by my ex-wife, I have never failed to ask to be included in all parenting decisions. It's in our parenting plan, the one we both signed when we agreed to our divorce documents. Even when my co-parent refuses to co-parent, I can be a great co-parent. My kids deserve it. My ex is frustrated by it. And I am at peace with it.

Continue ReadingNine Years Into My Divorce: Finding My Single Parenting Superpower

Deadbeat… < What's the First Word That Came to Mind?

With one phone call, my ex-wife could take the jackboot of the AG's office off my credit and financial life. But why would she do that? In some universe, my ex-wife still feels justified in turning me over to the AG's office for collections.

Continue ReadingDeadbeat… < What's the First Word That Came to Mind?

Humans of Divorce: Why Child Support Should Be Cooperative

I often pontificate that my ex-wife is angry because she didn't get the happiness she imagined by moving her cheese from one man to a different man. She got everything she wanted in the divorce: the house, the child support payment + insurance for the kids, and the 70/30 parenting schedule, and still she's not happy.

Continue ReadingHumans of Divorce: Why Child Support Should Be Cooperative

Single Dad Survival Guide: “Dear Step Dad” Let’s Cooperate

As divorced parents with kids we all need to work together to support the system. I am not part of his family system, but he is part of my family system. I suppose in his mind they do not overlap. He is incorrect. He is also an ass.

Continue ReadingSingle Dad Survival Guide: “Dear Step Dad” Let’s Cooperate

I’ve Had Enough: Angry Ex-wife Pushes for Gold Again

My ex-wife is pressing me for money, not because she needs it, not because she thinks my son needs it, but because her brain is wired to think about money first, before all else.

Continue ReadingI’ve Had Enough: Angry Ex-wife Pushes for Gold Again

Why Father’s Day Sucks and Mother’s Day Rocks: Single Dad Stories

Don't let you custodial mom walk all over you. Just because she's got the state's attorney's behind her, doesn't mean she can disobey the law. In my ex-wife's case, she simply didn't show up to some of our Attorney General's appointments.

Continue ReadingWhy Father’s Day Sucks and Mother’s Day Rocks: Single Dad Stories