Loving father

A tough day, I feel knocked back Handing you back is the hardest part of my week because the silence that follows is a tough reminder of the precious little time we have together.

I’m so proud watching you play and explore the world with your beautiful smile. Giving you the special sign for your bedroom door was the highlight of my entire week.

Cancellations again – could there be light at the end of the tunnel? It’s a sinking feeling to be told I can’t see you but as you grow you’ll be able to express yourself. Perhaps that’s not too far off.

I respond to your mother with such caution just to defend my right to care for you. It is exhausting to fight for the tiniest connection while she remains so inflexible.

A double serving frustratingly half cancelled We were meant to have two days together, but however optimistic the reality never seems to favour us.

The high chair is empty and home is far too quiet today. I feel foolish for my optimism when our beautiful plans can evaporate so quickly without any warning.

Creating warmth on another frosty Sunday While it seems everything around me rotates around family, I get my 5 hours of mandated court time to see you.

Saying goodbye after time together hurts more than anything. I saw you waving at me from under the cargo bike cover. That tiny moment of love is what keeps my heart warm.

A concerning video call and working to build our connection Our video calls are meant to help us build our relationship, but your mum is spoiling them.

I worry about the manipulation you face when we are apart. Fighting for our relationship is exhausting but I will never stop fighting to protect it.

Missing you and having an empty bedroom A hollow weekend. Plans to decorate your bedroom will be paused until next time. Missing you feels like a perpetual feeling.

I spent all week thinking about our time together. I found some lovely books at the library and planned a special salmon lunch for us. Now home is silent and the fridge is full of food we won't eat.

A chilly new year feeding the ducks It was lovely to see you after a few long weeks apart. Although it was super cold, my love for you is like a furnace.

Staring into your beautiful oval eyes today warmed my heart and reminded me why I keep fighting for us.

An unnecessarily hostile start to the year It seems like basic cooperation from your mum is still something that needs to be developed in the New Year. I'll remain optimistic for us, though.

I tried to be flexible with our schedule but every small request turns into a problem. It's heartbreaking when your mum uses every opportunity to cut our precious time short.

Stay strong dads, 2026 and beyond

A lunch date together, chatting about birthdays and festivities It’s hard not to reflect on the months gone by. I'm hoping that in future years this time around my birthday is happier and we're closer.

My only wish is for more time with you. I hope next year is better and less costly. I feel defeated being barely in your life.

Our happy family Christmas lunch We came together for our first proper Christmas meal. I can't wait for more special moments coming in the future.

Once 9am passed and I knew you were coming I allowed myself to feel excited. This would be our first proper family Christmas together at home. I couldn't be happier to make these memories.

Dreaded strikes stopping our cuddles More cancelled time. It's cold and we're not cosy together. I feel so guilty.

I treasure every single moment together so I hate the thought of losing our day.

It’s starting to feel a lot like Christmas I created a cosy time at home for us and we got Christmas started just in case we can't celebrate in the coming weeks.

I was so happy to have you get stuck in with the cooking. Our day felt like cosy family time doing the normal things families do.

Your mum fighting with the court about the order The fighting against me having time with you has moved to object to the court order.

It feels like the legal issues and problems are never going to end.

An unexpected letter for you? Every day brings a constant tension as I fear what bad news might arrive next. The pain of previous unexpected messages makes even a routine check of the letterbox feel haunting.

I'll keep the letter for you to read one day so you know what happened. I wanted to raise you equally with your mum but she has done everything to keep us apart.

This is so relatable! Parenting really is about being flexible and finding creative ways to connect. What works one day doesn't work the next. I treasure these everyday moments of figuring things out together, even the challenging ones!

Ha! I totally get it. Those birthday parties can be exhausting but they're also such precious moments. Every silly game and chaotic laugh is a memory we're building together. One day we'll miss the chaos of toddler parties, even the ones that feel never-ending!

Beautiful perspective. As a dad navigating my own journey with my daughter, I'm reminded that every moment of presence and care creates lasting bonds. Fatherhood truly shapes what makes us human. Thank you for sharing this.

This is such a powerful truth. As an alienated father, I hold on to the belief that the love I show my daughter will one day overcome the manipulation. Every moment we share, I'm planting seeds of truth and warmth that no amount of negativity can erase.

Thank you for raising awareness. As a father facing parental alienation, your insights resonate deeply. Each day I strive to create positive memories with my daughter, believing that love and perseverance will prevail. Resources like this remind me I'm not alone in this journey.

Reclaiming difficult River Town memories with happy moments We started the visit to River Town by seeing friends. On Sunday, my focus was making precious memories with you. With a chill in the air, Christmas feels close!

We made the most out of our day and had a lovely time. The streets are filled with autumn leaves and families enjoying the last mild weather days of the year.

The world is a beautiful place when you see it through a little one’s eyes.

It’s one of the most beautiful things about being a parent.

When times are hard,
remember that most things
are better with patience.

Autumn activities at home and thinking about our future A lovely cosy time at home and lots of working on our future.

Autumn activities at home and thinking about our future

A lovely cosy time at home and lots of working on our future.

Missing trick or treating, bonfire night and most importantly, time with loved ones I visited our friends for some family time, but you were kept home on Sunday, so we couldn't see each other again.

We lost out on celebrating Halloween and won't have Bonfire Night together either. We'll have to get used to missing so many special moments for now. I promise to make up for it in the future.

We love our little monsters all year and forever 🎃👻

#halloween #parenting

Our Halloween video call missing the trick or treating I love our calls and this time I could include the pumpkin we made together!

Seeing how local families celebrate occasions like Halloween for their kids tends to remind me of all the things we're not doing together.

A lovely day of arts and crafts with my pumpkin Our rainy day inside getting cosy with arts and crafts and most importantly, the pumpkin!

In the few hours we had together, we got lots done, but it's over too quickly. At least we finished our Halloween decorations!

It's hard work but it's so so lovely

Just waking up from the dream...a few Saturdays ago I became a #dad.

#DadLife #Newborn #StillLearning #WhatsNext