Tracey in Maine

Two boys, same father, mothers are very similar, same town, about 6 years apart.

One mother says that’s enough, gets help and tells dear old dad, do not call or visit unless you are sober. That was about ten years ago, haven’t heard from him since.

Second mother (and dad have a daughter as well ) actually gets into serious car accident chasing dad, which has been the way for the past few years and is in a wheel chair for the rest of her life. While she is in the hospital, dad does not take care of them, gram does, dad does not come around, does not help. Mom gets out and still insist the kids can see dad anytime they want or he wants.

Son from mother one, is 20, has a personal physical trainer business while putting himself through college on his way to Med school next year.

Son from mother two, is 26, has three kids and signed off on one of them at birth, is an alcoholic and has been in and out of youth centers and then jails his whole life. Currently does not have kids, even though he knows they are in a bad place, is a narcissist that takes the easiest way in ever way.

There is such thing as a parent being more harmful to their kids by being around then not. It is a choice made in the best interest of the child, harder for the single parent, puts more on that parents shoulders and a lot of times makes them the bad guy, but,

As a parent, we can handle it. We can carry it so they don’t have to, we swallow the names and hatred they may feel towards us , because we can handle it. The destruction caused by thinking dad, or mom, left them, didn’t want them, didn’t love them, all of it, any of it, would be a lifetime of pain they would be dealing with and may never fully heal from. We can let them hate us, think we sent them away, let them think whatever they need to until they are old enough to know and understand the truth, because we can handle it. We can carry it, so they don’t have to.