My father left my mother when I was 2yrs old, stories regarding why vary wildly depending on who you ask in the family. My "father" (step father) came into my life when I was three. They have been together up until a few years ago, so over 20 yrs.
Yup!
From the outside, I had a pretty normal seeming life, two parents who worked, etc.

My dad left my mum when I was 5. I lived with my mum and 3 brothers. My stepfather came into my life when I was 8. I didnt see my real dad again until I was 21. I would say it affected me as I was a daddy's girl, being the only girl. I missed my dad when I was little but I can remember him visiting when I was a teenager, but he was visiting my mum not us kids. It was a very weird set up really, I got chucked out of my home aged 16, and I can recall my mum being with both my real dad AND stepfather. I wasn't around much then as mum had chucked me out for dating a coloured guy!! Omg!! Another story, anyhow I would say I was glad to be out as it was my stepfather who sexually abused me in my early teens, maybe that made me rebel IDK, as I am in therapy now so much to work through!!
My dad passed away when I was 22 and my stepfather died when I was 23, but mum mainly brought us up alone. I have old fashioned standards, morals and principles so I suppose she did the best that she could at that time. I wished I could have had my real dad bringing me up but that wasn't to be.

My father left my mother when I was young. He went off with my bio mom who left me with the mother I have now. I never knew my bio mom and dont want to. In his absence, I strugled a lot. I taught myself how to fight, how to ride a bike, play football..ect.

Now as an adult I dont have the right skills. Those skills that are passed down to help me be a man, I dont know what Im doing. It scares the shit out of me. My mother was mostly never around, she was allways working, for room and board. I never had nice things as a child, and we strugled with money everyday. Government assistance helped us out.

Then my father came back into the picture, moved me away from my abusers to Arizona. On the way there we ran out of money, and had to stay in the car. I remember sleeping in the back while my mother and father slept in the front. We had to speed away one day when a man was trying to get into the car while we slept.

We finaly started staying at the Saslvation Army house. I barely remember that place, I remeber have a family across the hall from us. I remember geting a splinter taken out of my hand and getting a candy bar afterward, it made me happy, because I didnt get candy as a child.

Then we got to AZ. We had an appartment there, lost it, then moved in with friends. Got another apartment, lost that one. Moved in with friends. Got a house, rented it for a while, couldnt afford it lost that, moved into an appartment. Moved from there. My parents got a one bedroom, I got a small room with a friend. There have been many other times where I moved as well.

The moving around screwed me up too, because I only had abusers as friends back in Indiana and only one after we settled for a while before getting evicted. Now I have lots of friends still working out being a man, still trying not to be scared.

My parents recently divorced. My dad is a horrible person and was abusive to the family. My mom has full custody of me and my brother. I try to have as little contact with my dad as possible.

My parents were together until my dad died 19 years ago. They had a very volatile relationship always yelling at each other and fighting over one thing or another, usually me. They seemed to get a little better as I got older and then by the time I was grown and out of the house things calmed down some. In many ways I think the fight was just all out of them as far as the marriage goes. I don't think they stayed together because of some great love for each other I think it was just familar, comfortable but who am I too say for sure. Just seemed that way to me.