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Father not involved in child’s life? A dad explains: “Why I don’t see my child”

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Mention the fatherless epidemic in the United States, and the arguments are polarizing. We hear things like “Father refuses to see child” or “Father not involved in child’s life.” These issues can be especially thorny during the holidays.

It’s easy to fall into stereotypes about deadbeat or indifferent dads, but I discovered the issue is quite complicated:

Father not involved in child’s life? A look into why fathers walk away after divorce

It is either:

  1. Men are irresponsible douchebags who abandon their children to mothers, who are left to raise the children with few resources, or …
  2. Women are conniving, malicious, entitled nut-jobs who alienate fathers from their children while taking all said fathers' money — all of which is supported by the family court system.

However, as we unpack in this article, the real reasons are more complicated, complex and human. Men after all, are marginalized as inferior or at least secondary parents, a fact that is codified in family court when mothers are nearly always granted primary time with children — a power position that means men and dads are officially a lesser parent. 

Read: My advice to moms and dads whose other parent is not involved

Why do fathers give up?

This post challenges a cultural assumption that men willingly walk out on their children and are irresponsible, apathetic parents. Instead, we all suffer under a sexist culture and legal system that marginalizes fathers, and makes it hard if not impossible for them to be meaningfully involved with their children, for reasons including:

  • Sexist culture that does not value or support dads, or prime boys to grow up to expect to be involved, meaningful parts of their children's lives
  • Family and divorce courts that favor mothers=
  • Parental alienation, in which one parent turns the kids against the other parent
  • One dad's compelling story about why he doesn't see his kids (keep reading)
  • Many dads don't believe the child is theirs or were tricked into fatherhood, or otherwise felt they did not decide to father the child.

853 reader comments and counting on this post tell a story about how prevelant fatherlessness is, how passionate people feel about its reasons and results — and how varied and nuanced those reasons can be.


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How can a father walk out on his child?

After studying this issue for the four years I've had this blog, I understand that the issue is complicated and nuanced. Men walk out on their child for many reasons, including:

  • They never wanted to be a dad in the first place but were trapped 
  • They have been marginalized by our culture and court system to every-other-weekend parents, which is more painful than walking away and starting a new life that promises more joy 
  • Conflict with the child’s mother is too difficult to navigate 
  • They feel unworthy of parenthood, and feel like walking away is the best thing for the child 
  • The father never had a strong father figure, does not feel competent as a dad nor understand how important his role is.

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A father's experience with parental alienation

What I haven't reported much is the point of view from the checked-out dads, many of whom have shared with me articulate, thoughtful, and often heart-breaking accounts of why they are not part of their children's lives.

These stories resonate with me, as they have challenged my earlier, blind admonishments that every parent has a moral obligation to fight for their children, no matter what.

I still believe this, but I also believe in empathy, and for recognizing each other's humanity.

Here is one story from a reader, John G:

Point of view from a dad who doesn't see his child

From my own experiences, I believe it's widespread for women to use children as a weapon to exact revenge against the ex during, and after, divorce proceedings.

During my lengthy divorce, my ex-wife claimed I was abusive, that she was ‘afraid for her safety,’ and tried to get ‘supervised visitation.’

None of it worked, because it wasn’t true, and because, as an educated professional I had enough money to spend six figures on an attorney.

However, it was still a waste of time and money. Even after the divorce, the games continued.

My son was being tutored on what to say to me (did you ever hear a 7-year-old respond ‘I’m not comfortable talking about that’ when asked a question?) and being instructed to call me by my first name and not ‘dad.’ I grew tired of making phone calls that weren’t answered, or of being put on hold and the child not coming to the phone, and of canceled visits.

It was heartbreaking seeing the child slip away from me, little by little.

I went to court on several occasions. There is the assumption that the man will just sit there and take the abuse because he does not want to lose the child.

She stuck by the letter of the law, and was able to severely limit my contact with my son by way of orders of protection and maintaining to the courts that he was a ‘danger.’

Related: This is the real reason your ex doesn’t see the kids

Orders of protection as divorce strategy

Of the divorced, professional men that I know, all of them had orders of protection against them by their wives.

This is even a problem that is recognized by the courts. Some attorneys go so far as to admit that the ‘afraid for my safety’ issue is part of the ‘gamesmanship of divorce.’ I went from the mindset of being a father to the child, to being reduced to the status of a ‘visiting uncle’ or a ‘Disneyland dad’ allied with thinking all the time like an attorney.

I was often worried what would happen if she started to make untrue claims that I had (for example) abused the child. When he fell over and scraped his arm when he was with me, I was advised by my attorney to go to all the trouble of going to the doctor, having the scrape bandaged and so on, just to legally cover myself in case she would claim that it had in fact been intentionally caused.

While on the lookout for anything that could be used against me, all the while constantly being told I was a bad person, a bad father, and all my involvement with my son was systematically stripped away. The whole process became a painful sham.

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Father refuses to see his child? Not quite …

I eventually reached a crossroads with four paths. Some men commit suicide because they can’t handle the anguish. Others resort to violence and anger against the ex-wife. Others take the difficult road, and sacrifice years of their happiness, battling on a hopeless battle with the ex, just to maintain some sort of contact with the kids. The fourth way, is to simply give up, and decide that the cost to the child through seeing the conflict, and to oneself, is too high.

I considered all the above paths for a long time and was tempted by more than a few of them. In the end, I walked away from all contact with my child more than two years ago.

What to do when the non-custodial parent doesn't show up or cancels last minute

Mother keeping child away from father

After I had calmed down, I tried again and contacted the ex. I had hoped she would have calmed down and would be willing to work with me.

But no, she is still the same bitter and vengeful baggage that she always was. Rather than attempting to discuss things and put things on the right track, she is willing to communicate in writing only.

She refuses point blank to let me contact the child. Everything has to go through her.

Some people will say it would be the noblest thing to carry on fighting regardless. ‘I would do anything for my kids!’ they spout.

Frankly, I feel that’s very naive and is almost always a view propagated by women.

Any father here who has been generously granted a weekend every two weeks knows the feeling when you say goodbye.

You’re just getting used to having them around, and they are gone. It’s like having a wound that never heals. Like a band-aid being ripped off over and over. The pain never really went away.

During those days, I used to recall these lines from Shakespeare's King John:

Grief fills the room up of my absent child,

Lies in his bed, walks up and down with me,

Puts on his pretty looks, repeats his words,

Remembers me of all his gracious parts,

Stuffs out his vacant garments with his form;

Logically, I have to balance the damage to myself, my life and mental health, the possibility of the conflict damaging the child, against the damage done by my absence.

People who don’t know the situation raise their hands in horror, or pass judgment, assume that this is a choice that is taken lightly and easily. It is not.

There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about it. Sometimes I see children in shops that look like my child and find it hard not to break down.

Sometimes I can’t take my eyes away. Even the shoes are the same. I don’t like to watch movies with children of that age in them.

I had to remove all the photographs that I had of my child and every other item and put them in a box. And that’s where all those emotions are now.

In a box, held tightly under control, so that I can try and enjoy some semblance of a normal life. It usually works.

I spoke to my ex recently. She claims that the child is just fine. She doesn’t seem to think that I’m needed and believes that my seeing the child is a bad thing.

She told me that the gifts I had been sending postally were in a box and he never got them. What is the point of trying? Who am I to argue?

She lives with the kid and does the real parenting. All that I could do, once a month or less (she lives a long way from me) would be to visit for a shallow shared visit, a museum trip perhaps – that’s not parenting – that’s just being a Disneyland dad.

I am in despair that many people and the courts expect the impossible. They expect the man to be totally interested, committed, involved with his child’s life – and yet – they make it impossible for that involvement to happen.

How can you remain interested and involved when you are given no information about the child’s everyday life, when even the most basic contact is made difficult or impossible, when you are limited to four days a month contact time if you are lucky?

In far too many cases, the father is merely viewed as a source of income.

The mother is viewed as the ‘real parent’ who almost always gets physical custody of the child. And once she has the child, she is then almost entirely free of the threat of any consequences.

Related: What is parental alienation?

Impact on a child’s life when a father isn’t involved

This is a great shame for the children involved who will probably be involved in divorces of their own or be afraid of marriage because they have seen the consequences when they fail.

I shouldn’t be surprised if more and more men eschew marriage and traditional family values over the next century.

Personally, I refuse to be blackmailed by my better instincts. I refuse to be reduced to the level of a Disneyland dad by some judge, attorney, social worker or indeed his mother.

I refuse to beg for access, or beg for photographs, or ask permission when I can please take him on vacation.

No. They will have no more of me.

One day, I will be able to get in touch without going through her once the child is old enough. Until then, I intend to get on with my life.

Please listen to Terry Brennan, co-founder of Leading Women for Shared Parenting, explain why default every-other-weekend visitation leads to absentee fathers:

Note that in cases where ‘standard’ visitation is awarded — every-other-weekend — fathers become depressed and non-involved, and within 3 years, one study found, 40 percent of children in an unequal visitation arrangement had lost complete touch with their non-custodial parents, which are nearly always the father.

Have a listen:

Bottom line: Father not involved in child’s life? Try to make co-parenting work.

If you are tempted to turn your child against the other parent, or not sure what is the best kind of parenting time arrangement, keep it simple, and equal. In fact, there are now more than 60 studies that prove that equally shared parenting is best for children (and, moms and dads!).

While we're at it, have a read about why a simple, fair 50-50 shared parenting time with no child support is the best, fairest, and most feminist arrangement.

To prevent this kind of trauma, here are some tips to how to make co-parenting work:

  • Accept that mothers and fathers are equal. This is a gender equality issue
  • Accept that just because the other person doesn't parent like you do, that is not abuse.
  • Let him fail, succeed and find his own parenting style. Many dads become better fathers after divorce because they have to.
  • When communicating with him, use ‘your house' and ‘my house' … not ‘Home.' Same when you address the kids – “daddy's house” and “my house.” Both places are their homes..
  • Keep him posted on matters large and small. Even if he doesn't show up for the teacher meetings, or make the doctors’ appointments, keep him abreast of what is happening with the kids.
  • Buy him holiday and birthday presents on behalf of the kids.  

But the bigger challenge is to change our culture, from one in which it is presumed that fathers are incompetent, and mothers are the default primary parent. Terry Brennan of Leading Women for Shared Parenting, and an equality activist. Listen to our podcast conversation:

For more on co-parenting communication, and reasons for better shared parenting, read: Co-parenting rules–even with a difficult ex

What do you think? Are you a dad who no longer sees his kids? Why? Please share in the comments …

Or, are you the mother of a child with an absentee father? What is your response?

Why do fathers give up?

This post challenges a cultural assumption that men willingly walk out on their children and are irresponsible, apathetic parents. Instead, we all suffer under a sexist culture and legal system that marginalizes fathers, and makes it hard if not impossible for them to be meaningfully involved with their children.

How can a father walk out on his child?

After studying this issue for years, I understand that the issue is complicated and nuanced, and there is plenty of legitimate room for both of these points of view. What I haven't reported much is the point of view from the checked-out dads, many of whom have shared with me articulate, thoughtful, and often heart-breaking accounts of why they are not part of their children's lives.

Wealthysinglemommy.com founder Emma Johnson is an award-winning business journalist, activist, author and expert. A former Associated Press reporter and MSN Money columnist, Emma has appeared on CNBC, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, TIME, The Doctors, Elle, O, The Oprah Magazine. Winner of Parents magazine’s “Best of the Web” and a New York Observer “Most Eligible New Yorker," her #1 bestseller, The Kickass Single Mom (Penguin), was a New York Post Must Read. As an expert on divorce and gender, Emma presented at the United Nations Summit for Gender Equality and multiple state legislature hearings. More about Emma's credentials.

904 Comments

I reckon that is the most succinct and accurate summary I have ever heard on this subject:

1. Men are irresponsible douchebags who abandon their children to mothers, who are left to raise the children with few resources, or …
2. Women are conniving, malicious, entitled nut-jobs who alienate fathers from their children while taking all said fathers’ money — all of which is supported by the family court system.

I am also a father going through this sort of situation
My ex left me in September after I was doing everything for her I was working Monday to Friday and some times even Saturdays she eventually left me
And ever since iv been accused of all sorts of things.
I have been trying to keep in contact with my children
And I have been to the first hearing in court.
Where they are doing a section 7 report
But there is nothing on the court order saying I’m not allowed to see my children. Everything was going OK as I was seeing them every other weekend but my ex blocked me on everything Facebook tictok whatsapp and even blocked my number on the odd occasion she unblocks me for a hour or so then that evening I’m blocked again. I am at the Cross roads now and looking at the directions to take But not sure as yet what path to take.
I honestly been thinking constantly waking up in the morning just really letting myself go is the best option
I spent most of my life protecting others just to be treated like crap by the justice system just because I’m a man. Over here we have things like woman’s aid where a woman can go to for support for free to be put in a refuge but us as men have next to nothing of that sort unless we pay hundreds of pounds maybe even thousands to get any support. I am based in the uk and the system is just biased

The “forced out father” youth mental health crisis is identified here rather the stereo type “fatherless home”. You can read it in the news when the single parent mother who is parent alienation enabled by child custody chaos for cash uncivil family law tries to say they do not know what went wrong with thier child in the sad / bad news of the fatherless home. The mother of all child abuse is parent alienation and the fatherless home is more so the mother alienation home of cult culture like master manipulator issolating from love, care and share parent for their personal gain. The children must be issolated from dad so mom can play victim and get victim benifits in not only abusing her own children, but abusing child protection civil family laws. VAWA is the go to for mother parent alienation and many divorce child abusing mothers are out to ruin protection for our daughters if they ever truly need it. Worse are son’s may marry someone like parent alienation mom and then that mom and grandma will see how bad they were to their own children when their grandchildren are suffering the loss of a great dad.

My ex didn’t even try to stay near the kids. I had to pay his debts (some of which I, debt free, didn’t even know about), give him half my retirement savings. He left the country and sees the kids literally days per year (last year he took them to Disneyland). He lies about his income and doesnt pay sufficient child support. I don’t say anything bad about him to the kids, I make them zoom with him twice a week. He promises to see them then cancels. It’s heartbreaking for the kids. My older child, whom he used to be very close with, has severe anxiety and depression now.
I don’t think my ex is a douchebag, rather he seems to have some sort of inability to care about his children deeply or realize he impacts them, but also doesn’t realize that time passes and soon they won’t be kids and he’ll never be able to repair his negligence. It’s very sad for my children.
So this article didn’t reflect, in any way, my experience.

This article pisses me off. Just be there for your kid and quit thinking that the mom is some gatekeeper. You both should have equal access.

I’m a young father at the age of 22 going thru these problems, growing up I didn’t have a father figure in my life all I had was my mom to raise me and not having a father around it hurt real bad, u feel as if a part of u is missing and thinking about your child if u truly care about them u wouldn’t want them to experience that same feeling and that’s exactly wat I didn’t want to happen to my daughter, she’s 3 years old now and I only got to see her for a total of 4 months out all of those 3 years and it was when she was first born. My daughter mom been keeping my child from me for a very long time and being the kind of father I am that actually wanted to make a better life for his daughter and was always right there taking care of her, I mean I was letting my baby mama get vacations back to back even tho I was the only parent working I still stuck around for my baby, she was the only thing that made me realize I was worth something after growing up saying I wasn’t. Before my daughter was born with in 6 months of my baby mama pregnancy she cheated on me and I broke up wit her and even tho I hate her so much I still let her live wimme just so I could make sure her pregnancy would go well but none of that mattered after my daughter was born, she took my baby from me all because she was mad I didn’t wanna be wit her and that shit broke me in so many ways, I couldn’t even find da strength to get up out of bed da next day, all I could do was cry, punch walks, and try to kill myself even tho it wasn’t my fault still til this day I feel I failed to be a father. I tried going to court over and over to get more visitation wit my baby but no matter how much proof I had showing that I was being kept away from my daughter the court still took up for my baby mama, and I mean from her actions u can see she’s not fit to be a parent but the system just take up for women no matter how wrong they are, so wat the woman delivers the child? Without us men sliding in them they wouldn’t have the child so we have just as much rights to the child as the mom does.

$25,000 later (cash mind you), not including all previous court costs, I can happily say I don’t see my child by choice. I bet the kid feels extremely hurt, but this is what society wanted. Before realizing that no one actually cares about the child or the father, I’d beat myself up, feel guilty and a whole range of emotions. I even thought about transitioning to aquire some rights, but that’s when I realized I might as well just give up. I’d even thought of suicide, but that wouldn’t be fair and that’s what society, the courts and others want me to do. Don’t believe me? Just look at how society treats men and even treats children – it’s sad. At the end of the day, the juice just isn’t worth the squeeze.

This article will piss of parent alieantion mothers and those who do not believe in mothers who parent alieanate. Your right, there is a 4th Commandment not by a civil family law judge, but of the real judge whom uncivil family law judges ignore when mom is handed the kids with her made up story of dad for her victim play and personal gain which makes her power and control like master manipulator and cash cow for the child custody chaos uncivil family law network. That would make anyone one pissed off knowing this truth of mothers who parent alieanate abuse their own children for profit to the uncivil and unethical child custody chaos for cash network.

My child was used as a weapon to punish for divorce i was told i abused my wife when we pushed each other nothing more from argument which i had to attend year of anger management. Was told i could not see kid without supervised visits just total BS. The selfishness of my ex to present obstacles was just not worth what would have cost in courts and anguish on child i therefore avoided all contact and have lost contact. It hurts but i know its something i cant control. It hurts sometimes hoping one day can rectify

As a woman, and a Feminist, I agree that the courts can be very bias against men. Any woman who uses a child as a weapon against their father is evil and can guarantee your child will grow to resent you. If a man or woman is abusive to themselves or others, they should have supervised visits or no rights at all, depending on the level of abuse, but outside of that reason a Men or Women should equal rights to their children. The child is the only one who will be hurt in the long run. Women, just because you gave birth to the child, that does not mean that the child belongs to you, and you are alone. If you are lucky enough to have man who wants to be involved in their children’s life, why would you try to interfere with that relationship. I also believe that if you a vindictive enough to interfere with that relationship you should not be entitled to getting any support. I don’t agree with the term that “someone trapped you” with a child, sex is for procreation and if you take part in it, you automatically consent to becoming a parent..Period. No form of birth control is 100% effective, so if you have sex be prepared to become a parent.

Is there anyone who can actually help when it comes to a man fighting? He’s complete hardest to even speak to his son. So many talking about these issues yet nothing changes. What is it actually going to take because it’s got to the point where they don’t even take the child’s interest into account

I’m a mother in the fathers position. I got divorced in 2018. The final year of my marriage had infidelity, my mom passed away of Alzheimer’s, my father had his leg amputated, so I started drinking. Alot. My ex husband filed for divorce while I was in rehab, so I missed my court dates. I was in inpatient rehab in another state, and everything defaulted. And now it’s 5 years later, and I’m an every other weekend mother whose been fighting for equal time with our kids, and I’ve been thrown everything from dv Accusations, drug accusations, to even getting an assault charge when my exes girlfriend attacked me. And now it’s been almost 2 months since he showed up to our meeting spot to do child pickup/drop off. And the dad in this article is right. It’s hard 5o say bye every other weekend after only 6 hours of time with our kids. And in at the giving up point because everyone is unhappy and it may be best for now.

A lady told me once, and she had no clue about my situation, “no matter how much love we have for your kids, sometimes we have to step back, and love them from a distance, for now. When they grow older, they’ll figure out on their own, whatever it is they need to figure out”

I’m 3 years in post divorce and trying to be involved in daughter’s life has brought me to bankruptcy and health issues to car accident and concussion to wanting to permanently check out. Daughter called her moms boyfriend and my daughter is losing interest in our 96 hours a month together.

My Ex with the full cooperation of Department of Health and Human resources ripped me to shreds in court. I never had a chance. Irresponsible accusations, baseless concerns. No due process. No supporting evidence. No burden of proof. Just a bunch of angry fingers pointing at me. Accusing me. Labels stabbed in my back. When Court was done, I had no rights, save supervised visits. Of course, to be supervised by my Ex, the same woman that abused me and my children for years. In the end, I was emotional, financially, mentally exhausted,. Tired of the abuse, I just walked away. It was the best decision I ever made. The more I fought for my children the more abuse I suffered. constant criticism, accusations. Neverending. The abuse only stopped AFTER I walked away from my children. I ache everyday for my children. But I did the right thing. Be very loud. Tell the Courts, your Ex,, you will be treated with fairness and respect When they refuse, as they will, WALK Away with head held high. Don’t let them abuse you. Just stand up and walk away. They don’t value you. They don’t respect you. They never will.

This is one of the best articles I have come across. There are so many similarities. Illinois courts are maybe the worst that I can imagine. I spent all I had and lost jobs, relationships, mental health has deteriorated, and slowly that rare time with them went away completely. I was in court so many times
I lost count. Lawyers perpetuate the issue as well as the system. I cry daily. I’m in therapy again and have been when I can afford it for years. My biggest great now. And there have been many fears, as we have no rights, Is that they will still believe the same stories they have been told over and over by the ex and the mother in law. It’s complete alienation. I struggle daily not to off myself. Anyone who knows me knows that’s not who I am, but what I have become. I could write a 10k page book but that and therapy and Groundhog Day the movie becoming my life is all that’s left. My newest plan is to Thelma and Louise it or move to another state or Country but I know the memories will just be packed inside me. So…that’s that. I feel for every father or mother who have dealt with this. My life as I know it od long gone. Depression and sobriety are my only thought. It’s a viscous circle ⭕️ and the judge when I filed a motion for family counseling has not made a decision in 7 months while I am 100% in the dark. Illinois needs reform. This is exactly why when folks watch A&E and say, how did things go that bad? Now we
Know if r have a glimpse into how one parent can make a lifetime of decisions for the other without any regard for anyone but themselves. Men are checkbooks as
My ex says. Nothing. More. You think her new
Husband might notice that. But he’s under the same
Trance. I pray he doesn’t have to see her wrath if they separate. They reproduced. I. Got fixed. As they say. I pay one day for peace and joy in their lives and that one day of I’m still around get to see their beautiful faces and maybe one day have grandkids. That feels similar to winning the Powerball. And about the same odds. Fuck Illinois and wealthy narcissistic behavior. And finally. Fuck the system that profits controlling fathers lives from false information and actions.

I was babytrapped (the mother acknowledged she lied to get pregnant) and moved in state, bought a house to ensure I could raise my son but 3.5yrs of using my own child as a weapon against me to get what she wants at the expense of my life/goals/wants and constantly being falsely accused of cheating all these years while I see my son repeatedly getting hurt when he’s with her took a toll on me and I started being angry and verbally abusive whenever she behaves ugly towards me. I have had thoughts about suicide but I grit my teeth as it’s important for my son to be around me and doing what I can. I HATE the legal system and some of these brain dead/psychotic women.

Every other weekend plus a Wednesday overnight visit was what my ex (their father) had for a while. I liked having the time to myself and I used it to go back to school. But I also missed them a lot. Eventually, he stopped picking them up. For a while I tried to keep him involved. I drove them to his mothers house. I offered to meet him places. I gave him some money for car repairs. He always had reasons why he couldn’t pick them up when he was supposed to. So I stopped trying. Now I have the kids full time, haven’t gotten any cards or gifts, no phone calls or even a text message from him. I keep my same number just in case he ever wanted to get in touch. But he just doesn’t. It’s hard to explain to the kids. He never really paid child support but I don’t care about that because I stepped up to provide for them. If he could have kept up the every other weekend and Wednesday nights it would have been better for the kids. If a dad has shared custody like that he should show up for it. It’s not about what you want “I wanted to not feel the pain when it was time for them to leave” “I wanted to be a dad on my terms not a Disneyland dad.” You know what, be there in the time you can. See if you can get more. But don’t dip out based on what you want and didn’t get. It should be about the kids. I didn’t want to share them either but I did. Get a second job in that spare time and send your kids to college.

My boyfriend was separated and divorcing when we met. I knew that it would be a challenge and almost walked away because I just didn’t want to be bothered with the drama of a fresh divorce, especially since I was post divorce two years and have a great co-parenting relationship with my ex. But, I stuck it out and committed to be a partner in making things easier. Since the visitation order has been in place, every Sunday, she sees her dad on average…once a month. The ex would plan things fun for his daughter to do on the Sundays that he was supposed to get her. He just let it go. I tried to tell him to enforce it, but he didn’t want to rock the boat. It progressed to him going three months in a row without seeing her. I feel bad for him because I know he loves his kid and he is trying to be there for her, but a bitter mother will always make it hard and will use the child as a weapon.

This is one of the main reasons why I didn’t really want to get involved with someone going through this situation. Me and my kids got used to her visiting and now nothing. But, it seems like he has disassociated and just goes about his day like nothing is happening. I can’t fix the situation for him because it is not my fight. It takes a conscious effort to put animosity away and do what is best for the child. Definitely not easy..

I would rather eat a pound of broken glass than deal with the feminist whores and parasites in the Calofornia family court system again.

My partner is being alienated from his child for the last two years , as he has every second weekend , visitation. Mom routinely called him and said ” she doesn’t want you, she doesn’t need you”…. This man is crying himself to sleep fighting for his child in a court system that thinks he is inconsistent when in fact he’s not and its her that is.

Australian courts are the same. Even though he had written evidence of how abusive and toxic the mother is the queensland courts and police just side with her. whatever she says, without evidence, is accepted. Now after almost 3 years of fighting, financial ruin, lost jobs etc, my son says he has to give up.For his son’s sake because he is kept in the middle of the toxicity and with her saying she would rather see her son in foster care than with his dad and that she will keep fighting to see that happen and spend as much of his money as she can, my son feels if he steps away maybe things will be better for my grandson. And maybe my son will get a chance to heal. it is heartbreaking as my grandson wants to see and talk to his dad but she refuses to allow it and because he is only 5 he is not considered to have an opinion. The mother has also been blocking me and my family from talking to or seeing him. and the only way I can fix that is to go to court and we have no money left. So yes, my son cries daily and struggles bit we just cannot see what else to do.
I feel for all the dads that have to go through this. I have learned over the last few years just how biased the system is, how little support there are for dads and how courts help mothers destroy kid’s lives.

My marriage was toxic, some my fault, some because of, what I saw, was me being abused, who’s to say? I fought for my child, but every time I did it got worse and the accusations multiplied. Any conversation with my child was twisted into a fight. The courts “granted” me equal custody but it was never “allowed”. I was told by the lawyers that there was nothing i could do even though i was in the right. I chose to step back and let my child have a life and save the money that would have been wasted on a messed up legal system for my child’s life to be used when they could benefit from it. I was a good parent, all the things said about me were blown way out of context but who needs proof in the courts, right? I am a good parent to someone else’s children now but wish that my own could see through the lies and remember what type of parent I really am. I will always be here for them no matter what, I just hope they realize that soon. Life is too short for these stupid games or for using children because you are so petty. It is unfortunate but it is allowed. I love my child more than anything as that is how it should be, unfortunately for now that is shown through giving space. There is no “right” thing to do because it is all displayed as wrong, I still fear the abuse even after all these years. Hopefully some day the truth will win out.

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