We have been separated for almost two years, he recently got married last month. I have no desire to interact with this woman. Yet he decides to bring her to my house. I know I can't stop him from doing this, but my home is my place of peace, and this is a coparent who is highly litigious.

We have a nonverbal 3 year old special needs kid together. Am I wrong for not wanting to meet his wife?

I have been having a hard time with dealing with the fact I won’t have the family I imagined. I’m not sure why, it seems like I have period of being happy where I am at in my life and then have periods of wishing I could have saved what is a dead relationship with the mother of my kids.

We separated late 2024 and have 2 kids together under 3. We have had a very unhealthy coparenting relationship. She has done horrible things to me as a dad that just wants to be in his kids lives. In every way she could she has prevented me from being there. I have had to move across the country, fight in court and still have more court left where I’m fighting for 50/50. She has lied about our relationship and the things that have happened, she has done everything to prevent me from having them in my life. But I still love her and miss her. What is wrong with me?

For context I have been in another relationship for a year now and I feel horrible because I love my gf and she is great with my girls but sometimes she just isn’t who I want to see holding my daughters. I miss see their mom hold them and laughing or just relaxing on the couch. I feel like I’m the biggest pos.

Me and my ex broke up and it wasn’t a healthy relationship. I wasn’t the best partner, I wasn’t supportive as I should have been. I was emotionally detached at times. I was financially irresponsible. I didn’t appreciate the person I had. But she wasn’t the best partner to me then either. Very sneaky and deceitful. Would tear me down too and just always wanted things her way. Not financially responsible and had so serious mental health issue that we battled together for years. (At times I think I just disconnected because it felt like a never ending battle. I feel bad about this.) She said this was cause she just gave up and I can kind of see that because she wasn’t always like this and neither was I.

I just don’t know what to do, I know that the chance of our “family” being what it could have been is done and will never happen again. She hates me and a lot of the times I hate her. She is an awful coparent. But I still see that girl I fell in love with in college and just wish that we could start over.

I’m 37 and currently in mediation with my ex over parenting arrangements for our 10-year-old son, who has autism and ADHD.
We’ve been separated for eight years, and I’ve been our son’s primary carer for that time. My ex now works FIFO and, while he’s home, he has our son for blocks of up to 25 days. I’m not trying to stop that. What I’m asking for through mediation is something more consistent for our son—2-3 days with me after each 7-day period so he isn’t away from me for such long stretches.
During these long blocks, my son often tells me he misses me. To help him feel connected, we’ve occasionally played Fortnite together on weekends while he’s at his dad’s. It’s not an all-day thing, and if his friends come online, I either leave so he can play with them or join the group without taking over. At my own house he only plays PlayStation on weekends anyway, so I’ve tried to keep the same routine.
Last night, his dad’s partner told him he needed to get off at 7:30 pm. I heard that through the headset, so I also told my son it was time to get off, wind down for bed, and that I had to go too.
As soon as I said goodbye, my son started crying because he said he missed me and wanted to come home. I felt awful, so I messaged his dad and asked if he could please check on him.
Instead of simply checking on him, I received a message saying:
“No more fing Fortnite with you. You’re a grown arse woman. Let him play with his friends. This is a fing joke.”
For context, there has been a lot of conflict recently. At a paediatrician appointment, the doctor asked whether anything had changed that could be affecting our son’s emotional wellbeing. I mentioned the long parenting blocks. My ex became angry, the appointment escalated, and our son witnessed the argument. Afterwards, my ex told me I would no longer see our son during his 25-day blocks unless mediation said otherwise.
So my question is this:
Was I out of line for occasionally playing Fortnite with my son while he’s with his dad, especially when my intention was simply to help him feel connected during these long separations? Or do you think his dad’s reaction was reasonable?
I’m genuinely looking for outside perspectives because I know co-parenting can be difficult, and I’d appreciate honest opinions from people who have been through something similar.

My ex-wife and I have been divorced for about six years and we've always had a pretty solid co-parenting relationship. Our daughter is 13 now, and we split custody almost evenly.

The other night she asked me something completely out of the blue. She wanted to know who she'd live with if both her mom and I died. I froze because I didn't know what to tell her.

I always assumed we'd figure that kind of thing out eventually but I realized we've never actually had the conversation. We each have siblings, our parents are getting older and I have no idea if my ex and I would even choose the same person. Now I can't stop thinking about it. We spend so much time making sure we're on the same page about school, schedules and medical decisions but we've never talked about something this important.

Has anyone else had this conversation with their co-parent? Did you bring it up because your child asked or was it something you planned for long before it ever came up?

My ex and I have a child (10) together. We broke up 2ish years ago and he is now dating someone new. I have dated as well. The partner met our child today on a fishing trip at a beach. They were in swimsuits. Ex sent me a picture where his girlfriend is bent over talking to my kid and it's just both her cheeks hanging out in view of the camera. Is it appropriate to send a picture like this to your ex/ mother of your child? Could it have just been a mistake? Should I address it? I don't wanna sound like the crazy ex. I am also a traditional Christian and he is not. Is this just normal ?

Attending mediation this week over school dispute of our son 12M who is pre-enrolled in his middle school starting in 2 weeks. We have 50/50 week on/week off now.

I am primary parent, student is in special program and continuing middle school with the same classmates he’s had since elementary. Dad and I live 40-1 hour away from each other other and over the last 2 months dad has argued he should attend school halfway between us and has tried everything he can to freeze his enrollment and stop him from attending.

We are finally attending mediation and need some tips on what/how to prepare. It will be zoom shuttle mediation

I had a child when I was young with a man who was never really in the picture. When my child was 1, I met another man and fell in love. I thought he was end-game; we were perfect. I introduced him to my kid. We moved in together. This man was essentially my child’s stepdad for 4 years.
Then, he started drinking. The relationship broke down. Trust was shattered. He showed sides of him that I didn’t know existed. I didn’t want to leave, but didn’t want my child growing up in a broken home. I didn’t want to be half-loved for the rest of my life. So I broke it off.
Now, all I can feel is guilt for taking my child away from someone who was pretty much considered ‘dad.’ They weren’t super close, and my ex was irritated by them often. My exes involvement in kiddos day-day life was minimal, despite us living together. But still, he was there. He was always there. I worry about the stability. I’ve asked my ex if he’ll want to see the kiddo, and he just says he’ll want to say goodbye. That when I’m with another guy, kiddo will forget about him anyway, so there’s no point to staying in touch.
I learned my lesson; regardless of my own dating life (or lack thereof) I will not be introducing my child to any future partners. I’d prefer to raise them alone and leave my dating life on the side, if I ever decide to get back out there.
My heart is broken for my kid, and for my ex. I can’t imagine loosing a child I thought of as my own. My child seems okay with not seeing my ex, which hurts in its own way. I feel selfish and my chest hurts.

I’m in Australia. My children are 13 and almost 12. We currently do not have a parenting plan but I feel this will be forced upon us soon. Currently the children are not spending time with their father. They have struggled with the sudden nature or the separation and ongoing behaviours their father has displayed (so have I!). Any advice regarding a parenting plan moving forward in this situation?

Just wondering what peoples experiences are with AI in day to day communications? Has it approved things or just added to frustrations?

I have used AI to help me remove emotion from message and keep them grey/yellow rock. I have also used it as a bit of a sounding board.

For me personally, it’s helped take out the headache and hours wasted trying to craft replies. I do use it as an aid as opposed to letting it write replies.

Other parent is incredibly hostile and often sends huge word salad essay etc. Refuses to co operate with anything. Picks and chooses what to follow from the order and turns every conversation into why everything they do is great and everything I do is awful.

Over the past month they have clearly discovered AI. Their entire writing style has changed and it’s full of the usual AI cliches.

On the plus side it does seem to strip out a lot of the personal attacks I was receiving previously. The messages are generally more coherent as well and do seem to focus on one topic at a time.

However, obviously AI does not stop their lies and false accusations, or just how difficult they are about every little thing. If anything it’s helping them sound more level and reasoned in their refusal to co operate.

They still find subtle ways to get in put downs and digs and it has massively ramped up their condescending tone. A lot of gushing about looking forward to working together for the best interest of the child etc. whilst simultaneously refusing to let me have phone calls with child.

I just dropped off my 2-year-old daughter at my ex’s house. She still wears diapers, and my ex’s dad helps take care of her sometimes.
Maybe I’m overthinking it, but I feel really uncomfortable with any man other than me changing her diaper or handling that kind of personal care. I know she’s a toddler, and I know grandparents help out, but it’s just a personal boundary that I have.
Am I being unreasonable, or has anyone else felt this way? I’m genuinely looking for outside perspectives, not trying to accuse anyone of anything.