I split from my ex about a year ago. The divorce was messy and long story short, she took our daughter and went back to her home state. My parents moved to where I currently live before our divorce and since I was paying the mortgage on their house and financially supporting them in addition to being unable to relocate due to work, I decided I was staying put. I've also met someone else and we're now expecting our first kid together which makes relocating even less of an option.
It's made the logistics of seeing my daughter harder though but I try to visit at least once a month and talk to her every day. However I had to miss her first day of school because my girlfriend wasn't feeling well due to her pregnancy and I got hit with last minute work stuff. My ex called me repeatedly, trying to insist that I come down for this, and I explained to my daughter that I couldn't come because I had alot going on but I love her very much and would see her soon. She was sad but said okay. I also had to cancel my Thanksgiving Christmas visit because of my gf's pregnancy. Recently my daughter asked me if I'd ever live with her again, and I tried to gently explain that no, because I can't leave my job and because I'm going to have another baby soon but we would see eachother lots. I was talking about this with the guy's at work, and with the exception of one, all told me I was a huge asshole that's ditched my kid for a "piece of ass". I feel that I'm stuck in an impossible situation. My ex won't move back here and I have no desire to keep her from her support network, my gf is pregnant and her kids also see me as a surrogate dad now, and I have my parents to support. I can't just drop everything to move somewhere else. I feel bad about it but don't think I'm doing the wrong thing.
AITA?
[–][deleted] 1 point2 points3 points (0 children) | Copy Link
And men still have children
[–]darkbluexanadu 3 points4 points5 points (3 children) | Copy Link
As a dad with custody of my kids i think he's wrong here. My SO knows that my kids come first and foremost. I was completely up front with her about it from the beginning. I'll also add i am not quite sure that after a messy divorce and having your kid relocated states away that having another kid is the best idea in this situation. His daughter needs to know she is a priority in his life. I can imagine the mom using the new baby as a parental alienation tactic with the daughter against her dad.
[–]EvilLothar 3 points4 points5 points (2 children) | Copy Link
If the mother moves the kid out of his reach, then HE'S not in the position to make her a priority. He is entitled to move on with his life and have a family.
[–]darkbluexanadu 0 points1 point2 points (1 child) | Copy Link
Im not suggestiing he isnt. But saying he cant be there for his daughter because the pregnant girlfriend needs him isnt doing him any favors. The daughter is already in a vulnerable position with the divorce and relocation feeling like her father has other priorities is just going to further divide them.
[–]EvilLothar 2 points3 points4 points (0 children) | Copy Link
I don't think that's really going to not happen regardless. If you don't live with your children, you will see less closeness as a result. And she needs to learn that he DOES actually have other priorities. Work, his new GF/ wife, new baby, etc.
[–]BirdMington 2 points3 points4 points (0 children) | Copy Link
A typical case where money can separate a father from his children.
He has to pay child support AND travel expenses and still barely sees his child. When he finally wants to start over he is branded an asshole.
The ex did the same thing: moved far away and went crazy when I found another woman and had a child together. She wanted me to be miserable forever and couldn't handle when I finally moved on. That's when she stepped up her alienation game.
To be honest I don't give a flying fuck about what haters say and this guy shouldn't either.
Just be happy and visit your child as much as you can, she will wise up eventually. I kept every single hate mail and message I got from the ex along with lots of voice recordings and I'll give them to my daughter once she is old enough. It's up to her to decide at that point.
[–]Arkhamfreak -1 points0 points1 point (6 children) | Copy Link
I dunno. After reading some of the points people made in the comments, it seems like in this particular instance that guy is TA.
[–]manbaby1769[S] 6 points7 points8 points (0 children) | Copy Link
When you’re in an impossible situation, someone will be hurt
[–]Women_Do_Suck 5 points6 points7 points (3 children) | Copy Link
How so? His child was taken from him and moved half way across the country. He still manages to see her every month and talks to her every day. I fail to see how missing some planned visits because his girl is pregnant and he has other obligations (on top of, you know, his ex moving his daughter to fucking Texas) makes him an asshole or poor father.
[–]KitchenCellist 0 points1 point2 points (2 children) | Copy Link
In OPs other post he states that he agrees with the daughter's mom moving because she has health issues and she has a support system in her hometown.
[–]Catcrumble 2 points3 points4 points (0 children) | Copy Link
They ALWAYS have health issues. Every girl I've ever known has some kind of health problem that gives them an easy out.
I once Dated a girl that had epilepsy, so she could only go to music gigs she liked but never any of mine. There's another girl I know with some kind of PTSD - loud noises are her pick-and-chose excuse.
Don't you see that's part of the problem?
[–]Women_Do_Suck 3 points4 points5 points (0 children) | Copy Link
Which is relevant to him being an asshole or shitty father how? If anything, that’s the antithesis to both of those.
[–]otterlyclueless 4 points5 points6 points (0 children) | Copy Link
If you have to fly cross-country to visit all the time, I understand the guy's perspective.
My extended family is a continent away and we all understand the difficulty of visiting often, we make do with what we have. He is not an asshole, IMO.