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There is no secret that I love my children beyond the describable words that are often used. On May 13, 2004 my life was forever changed. With the birth of my son I went from being a man to becoming a father. What a scary time. I remember the first day alone with him. I stared at him for hours. However I vowed that I would do everything in my power to be the best father I could be. After a few days it became routine. I witnessed all the milestones, giggles, holding his bottle, rolling over, crawling, walking, his first tooth, deep belly laughs to his first words.

By the time his sister showed up in March 30, 2007, I was a pro a rearing infants. It was more of the same. However it was very familiar, but diffrent. It was amazing watching these babies grow. Witnessing the milestones was really exciting. I miss the deep belly laughs from DS. Her babbling was done as if though she was singing. I remember her first steps, her first tooth. Rolling over and then screaming because she was scared.

While going through the divorce things stayed pretty much the same for the three of us. We stuck to our routine, which probably saved my sanity. I will admit these were hard time but I had a strong support network in place. Seems everyone was willing to help out. I have a wonderful family from the marriage and one I was born into and some really great friends who were there to listen, lend a hand, and offer support. Thank you!

So now comes the time when both my kids will be in School all day. I’m not ready for this change. I openly admit I have had some serious tunnel vision when it comes to my children. Truth be told I don’t like being away from them. It’s been kids and work, kids and work, kids and work for almost 10 years. Shit, I feel like I worked myself out of a job, out of a routine that I have enjoyed, even though I went without much needed sleep.

Now I’m questioning myself on where I went wrong, what I should have done different. Maybe I should have been more flexible on my convictions.

Regardless, big changes are coming. At this time I’m not even certain on how much contact I will have with my children. The parenting plan is changing and this brings some uneasiness to my life.

However I struggle, because I really don’t know who I am or how I got to this point. I feel as if I have been isolated from the rest of the world, and in an instance a gate will open to a once familiar world, that no longer resembles what I have known. This alone creates confusion. It’s hard to explain how I’m feeling. My emotions are bouncing between uncertainty and pure chaos, with no distinction between the two.

[This message edited by Thelastknight at 3:28 PM, August 15th (Thursday)]

You will be okay, you will adjust to this change just like the others and it will become part of your routine. Change is scary, but part of life.

You and your kidlets will be just fine.

First, if you have an IC, I would suggest a visit to help you sort through what you are feeling. Change is always a little scary.

Second, as a SAHM, I totally understand where part of your identity comes from being a parent. As they grow and change, we as parents have to grow and change too.

Having them away from me is hard, but I know, "big picture" it is best for them. I view my "job" as a parent is to teach them the skills to be great adults. Wether they are with their Dad, or at school, or at soccer, or whenever they are not physically with me, I know they are gaining skills for their future...not mine.

Being a good parent is hard.

Is homeschooling a possibility? My children & I loved homeschooling with a passion, so much so that they insisted I do a "lite" version of it over this summer break. We are all dreading school starting up again. We genuinely like spending our days together learning & just being a family unit.

Last year I had to put my kids in school and be separated from them for the first time. It killed me. I'm dreading it again. I found ways to keep myself busy, but I found myself watching the clock until I could get my kids at the end of the school day. This is quite possibly my biggest resentment of STBX, that his inability to be a decent human being has robbed me (and the children!) of a life together and a decent education.

Gently...please don't be a helicopter parent. Let your kids grow and play and make new friends. Let them experience all of life's riches and a lot of life's hardships--all of this will shape them and help them to become the best adult they can be.

You too need to grow. Get out; spend time with other adults; make new friends; enjoy the world. You deserve this.

Hey there-- my youngest is headed off to K this fall, so I know how you feel. I was a SAHM for six years (from the time my eldest was born, just a month before your son, actually), and I have worked part-time for the past three years. This fall, my part-time position will be less part-time since the kids will all be in school, and my heart aches because for the past nine years, I've had a little one at home with me for at least half of the school day. Next year, we'll all be gone all day, and although I know we'll be fine, it's just a huge milestone that is very bittersweet for me.

Do some nice things for yourself-- I'm going to join a choir, get back into some form of exercise, start working on my hobbies again, and focusing more on me again since the kids will be less of a focus. It will be good training as they get older, and I have to get used to being on my own.

You can do it. It will be okay. It's just a temporary, albeit scary, adjustment.

My biggest fear is my XWW now wants the parenting schedule to go to every other weekend with me. In our decree it is stated as so because State law prohibits 50/50 custody awards unless both parents agree. She just doesn't even want to talk about making any changes. Makes me sick!

I would fight that if I were you. It sounds to me like you are and have been a very active parent in your kids' lives. What is your parenting schedule like right now?

My schedule is every weekend over night until monday at 3pm then visitation on Tuesday and Wednesday from 645am to 3pm. And then Thursdays from 645am to 3pm. The Thursday was thrown in for her convenience. Around 47%

You have them almost 50% of the time, and she wants to reduce you to EOW?

Oh hell no!

I can't tell you what to do, and I don't know what your financial resources are like, but if I were in your shoes, I would fight that. This isn't just about you-- it's about your kids. Like I said before, it sounds like you're a pretty involved dad, so it's not only going to hurt you, but it's going to hurt them.

Can you discuss this with your L? Why would any court of law change the parenting plan like this unless you were somehow a danger to your children or were no longer available for that kind of time due to your job? It seems to me like a precedent has been set, and sticking with it would be in the best interest of the children.

Sending you strength for the days ahead...

I'd petition to have your time sharing with the kids stay the same as it is now.

As long as you can accommodate their to and from school, etc., I would consider petitioning for a change to a closer to 50/50 arrangement. It might be different if you didn't already have that arrangement, but you do.

I have hired an attorney. I have been financially responsible for the last five years so I have the $$$. This shit doesn't make sense to me. typical for her though. Im gonna need some mojo. I think she has been served.

Glad to hear you are fighting this, knight. Sending you strength!

Mojo on its way, knight. Keep us posted .

Hugs,

K

TLK You write from the heart and I can feel your emotion and connection with your babes. I don't have much advice but sending you much Mojo.

Sending mojo! I hope it goes your way!