Going straight forward...antlers 6th thread.

[antlers]

Last night my son was lying in bed with me for a few minutes, talking, and he told me..."Dad, do you remember when mom took me and (his sister) to the OU women's basketball game last season when they played UConn?" "I told mom that it didn't seem the same without you being with us, and mom got mad at me for that!"
I told him that I was sorry that he had to be on the receiving end of that. She and I used to take the kids to a lot of the OU women's home basketball games.

Later on, he came back in there, and laid next to me and said..."I don't care what mom says...I think you're a good father."
That was awesome! That's validation right there! That's coming straight from the source that matters! I gave him a big hug and thanked him for telling me that. He told me these things out of the clear blue!

[ImprovedRomeo]

^^ Antlers, that's great. Sorry you still haven't seen your Ds...they'll come around.

Glad to hear about the L too, keeping my fingers cross for you.

BTW, I came across this book that I recently ordered if you think it may help you with co-parenting:

The complete single father

[Coach]

...I think you're a good father."

Nice!

Cheers Mate

[ClingingToHope]

Antlers, that is awesome.

That basketball game struck a chord. This is the second straight summer I won't go with the girls to the family camp ground. It has a beach and MIL is too heavy and STBXW isn't a strong swimmer so I was the one always swimming with D11 to the dock -- out in the lake where you can climb up and jump in.

This summer D7 thinks she can make it to the dock, but she said she doesn't want to go without me.

I had no real answer. I said someday I'll swim to the dock with you.

Who cares what the ex says. It's what the kids say that's important.

[antlers]

^^ Antlers, that's great. Sorry you still haven't seen your Ds...they'll come around.

Glad to hear about the L too, keeping my fingers cross for you.

BTW, I came across this book that I recently ordered if you think it may help you with co-parenting:

The complete single father

I hope they'll come around. I still text them regularly.

Thanks for the good thoughts. She really put me at ease. I think her reputation for being tough in the courtroom is accurate.

Thanks for the link. It'll be good...I've been looking at it online. Their mother isn't interested on coparenting, but I am committed to being the best father to them that I can be.

[antlers]

...I think you're a good father."

Nice!

Cheers Mate

Yep. Totally out of the clear blue from him! It made me feel something that I hadn't felt in a good while! My son got a lot of hard bark on him over the past couple of years, but I'm starting to see some of the heartfelt emotions come out from him again, and it's good to see!

[antlers]

Antlers, that is awesome.

Who cares what the ex says. It's what the kids say that's important.

Thanks. It made me feel so good to hear him say that to me.

The kids have it rough in these situations. God love em'! Yep...what the kids say is truly important! He and I seem to be doing really good right now.

[antlers]

"I can handle anything life brings before me. I will be just fine." - gucci loafer


Had to have this in my thread! Thanks gucci loafer!

[ImprovedRomeo]

I need to print it out and place it in the car, at my desk at work and home.

Thanks for sharing.

[Gardener]

ant,

..."I don't care what mom says...I think you're a good father."

That, sir, is what it's all about!

I hope they'll come around. I still text them regularly.

May I suggest laying off on the texting?
a) It's pursuing.
b) They may need to feel the consequences of their decision for a while (i.e.,) your absence.
All the best,