Managing relationships with your child

No-Tomorrow8150 · 2025-11-16T04:24:26+00:00

Same here and paying price now. At that age you cannot criticize, argue, parent or really enforce any rules as it can trigger a reaction that she cuts contact which seems to be encouraged these days. In my case I wanted her to split time on her 16th birthday or just pick a time before or after to celebrate and that somehow triggered her emotions and her mother and some friends told her she would be better off cutting ties with one parent. Total manipulation by her mother. She would constantly say things like I can’t believe you want to spend time with your dad.

MonarchistExtreme · 2025-11-13T06:35:41+00:00

I made that exact mistake with my son, I let her take the lead. She was the stay at home mom and I was the provider. She ran across the country with him for like 4 months before he demanded to come visit me. When he got back he asked to stay.

I closed the game by being interested in the things he loved. He loved Minecraft, I played a ton of minecraft with him. I also showed him my interests. I like cinema, foreign films, even arthouse and even though I'm sure some of it was boring as hell to him, he was happy to spend that time together.

Now he's 19 years old, he is my son, but he's also my best friend.

Asian_Rear_Entry0831 · 2025-11-12T12:47:41+00:00

After my divorce, my ex wife told me that she asked my son (before she decided to divorce) what his opinion was and that he sided with her in that she should be happy.

It’s now been 15 years that I closed all connections, contact and relationship with both of them and it was their decision to betray and abandon me.

Since then I moved away to the other side of the country. Started a new life and a new family. I have moved forward with my life.

When people don’t care for you, show any empathy towards you but only for themselves then it’s time for change in order to survive. Be strong!

Immediate-Story2562 · 2025-11-12T07:45:57+00:00

Teenage daughters can be difficult at that age. Best you can do is ask them questions to get conversations and so try getting a connection. Talk about what interest them.
Try not to coach and let them know that you love them no matter what. Say it to them. Daily.
It does not matter if they say it back, some of them are not mature enough at this age, to realize that we are also just human beings trying our best to figure out life as we live it, so be kind to yourself.
Maybe also try the r/DivorceDads thread. Might be good advice there.
Good luck!

upvotersfortruth · 2025-11-12T06:47:53+00:00

My buddy's got a teenage kid as well - you need to chalk up a serious amount of the frustration or lack of closeness to her just being a teenager, not just the divorce. That was his "a-ha" moment - my kid is being a dick because he's a teenager and he would hate me right now anyway.

Other than that - my daughter is 17 but we've always been close. I buy her random jewelry, watch what she's watching on netflix, take her to as nice of dinners as I can muster when she has time, give her some cash here and there, just try to keep up with things without being overbearing or needy. Also, I bought her a cat.

NewDay0110 · 2025-11-12T06:37:50+00:00

At 17? Seems like the time for building a close relationship with her has kind of passed.

Hairy_Drummer_9648 · 2025-11-12T04:48:34+00:00

Same, it’s very difficult to manage.

Title	Managing relationships with your child
Author	jdubby619
Upvotes	6
Comments	13
Date	November 12, 2025 4:35 AM UTC (9 months ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/Divorce_Men
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/Divorce_Men/comments/1ouvtlx/managing_relationships_with_your_child/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/Divorce_Men/managing-relationships-with-your-child.1566334 https://theredarchive.com/post/1566334

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