Single Dads Support Group

This community is dedicated to fathers who are going through the parenting process alone or without the support of a spouse. Single parenthood is often opted for by the parent (as in divorce, adoption, artificial insemination, surrogate motherhood, or extramarital pregnancy), or an unforeseeable occurrence (as in the death of one parent or abandonment by one parent).

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Children's Health & Parenting
/ Single Dads Support Group

First week of separation

deleted_user
deleted_user
My wife just moved out last weekend and we are sharing joint physical custody of our 3-year-old son. She's had him the first part of this week and I get him from Wednesday on.

When she dropped by the house with him on Sunday my little boy didn't want to see me... he kept running away from me and saying "no." I've never seen him like that. We are so close. I played with him every night for hours, made his breakfast every morning, got him ready for daycare and drove him there every day. When he and his mom went to leave Sunday I tried to give him a kiss in the car and he slapped my face.

I pick him up from dayare tomorrow... What can I do to make this easy for him? What can I do to make him feel that everything will be OK?
deleted_user
deleted_user
Just continue to be there for him. He is so young he is confused. Dont let his behavior bother you. My daughters at first were reluctant to be around me. Now they are so excited to see and be around me. Hang in there bro.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hudson, first, he's three. Second, he's dealing with MISSING you the only way a three year old knows how to by saying no. Just know that when you get him, make the most of the days you have him, I bet by 45 min. into being with him, he'll have no issue with you being therre and enjoying your time together. That is great you can share custody of the boy. So many dads get screwed royally by the system, I too am thankful for my arrangement, although since the divorce has been more like 75-25 with the bulk of time to me. I love it but the kids miss their mom terribly sometimes. she's the fun one, I am the do dad, goal setter, homework doer, bather, dinner maker, etc. you get my drift, just lettin go some vents
deleted_user
deleted_user
Thanks, JTGPP. I'm hoping you're right. Yeah, people keep telling me I might end up with him more than 50 percent of the time, but we'll see. His mom has been terrific about recognizing the need for Hudson to have me in his life and not just as a weekend dad. There's really no good outcome because he needs both of his parents as much as he can get them.

I'm thankful that of my parents, one was the fun, crazy one and the other was the responsible reliable one. I think I inherited a bit from both so I'm hoping I can strike a good balance with him. I try to make sure he gets his meals ontime and doesn't watch too much TV and at the same time am not afraid to dance around the room and make a fool out of myself if it will make him smile.

Thanks for the encouragement.
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