Hey fellas, long time lurker, well, since the divorce anyway. Been divorced 3 years this January, were together for almost 20 years. My ex's mom passed a while back, and two months ago ex decides she needs to go and deal with the estate. Understood, and I agreed to her taking my youngest, 16, and 19 to Oregon from the Midwest. Obviously the 19 year old is of legal age and can make up her own mind, but my other daughter is still underage. She said this was only a 'vacation' and would return in two months.

Two months passes and she finally texts me they aren't coming back.

I don't think they're in any danger, but I don't want to not have them in my life. She is the parent they live with, I pay support and have gotten to visit infrequently and have had zero say in my youngests care or upbringing. None of this has been fair, a common thread amongst us, but feel like my rights have been deleted and all I am now is a payout. They are the only family I have left, and am feeling isolated.