I’m 36 years old. I was married for two years and have two young children. I’ve now been going through a divorce for the past year and a half, with trial scheduled for May.

We share 50/50 decision-making custody, but she is the primary residential parent, so the children are with her most of the time. I see them every other day for two hours and every other weekend from Friday to Monday morning.

The relationship has been unstable. There have been repeated issues with dishonesty and conflict. She has expressed interest in reconciling, but when I decline, communication quickly becomes hostile. Given the history, reconciliation is not something I’m open to.

On top of that, I work a physically demanding job that has resulted in herniated discs. I recently took a week off due to back pain and am seriously reconsidering whether returning to this type of work is sustainable for my long-term health.

Financially, I have approximately $275,000 invested in the market and own my small townhome outright. However, between legal fees already paid (around $40,000), potential responsibility for additional legal costs, and a possible asset division, I expect my net position could drop to $200,000 or less by the time the divorce is finalized. Most of my assets are invested; only about $40,000 is liquid cash. With market uncertainty, that number could fluctuate further. I’m also paying 1,000/month in child support.

Emotionally, this has been the most difficult period of my life. My home feels empty when my children aren’t with me, and I miss them constantly. I don’t yet have a clear direction for my next career move, and I struggle to feel hopeful about starting over personally. I don’t see myself wanting to remarry.

I recognize that many people face far worse circumstances, and I’m grateful for what I have. Still, I feel lost — trying to protect my health, preserve my finances, remain present for my children, and figure out what rebuilding looks like from here.

I used chatGPT to help me keep this concise