My ex-wife Joleen and I were overjoyed when we discovered she was pregnant with our son after struggling with fertility issues. Joleen underwent extensive medical treatments before finally conceiving.
The news filled me with immense happiness, and Joleen was equally elated. I always believed she would make an exceptional mother, and I never tired of expressing that sentiment to her. However, our relationship took a sharp turn after our son was born.
From the moment our baby arrived, our marriage began to unravel. Joleen constantly criticized me for not pitching in enough with childcare and household chores. However, she never clearly communicated her expectations, leaving me to navigate the responsibilities blindly. It became frustrating.
Our relationship became strained. We found ourselves arguing over trivial matters frequently, and the constant tension took its toll on us both. Eventually, I reached a breaking point and expressed to Joleen that her life might be easier without me.
Instead of engaging in a heated exchange, Joleen grew silent and calmly stated that she couldn’t bear the argument any longer. It marked the beginning of the end for us, and soon after, we initiated divorce proceedings.
We’ve each found our own place now. According to the law, we both have an equal right to spend time with our son unless one of us proves that the other is neglecting him. Thankfully, we haven’t had any issues like that, so our lawyers suggested splitting custody and alternating weeks. It’s been our routine since we parted ways, and we’ve stuck to it.
I underestimated how challenging it would be. When I have my son for the week, it’s a struggle to keep up with everything else. I’m constantly tired, and it feels like I’m barely keeping my head above water. The weeks when he’s with his mom, I’m playing catch-up with all the things I couldn’t get done while looking after him. My place is a mess, and I’m barely managing to stay on top of chores and errands.
At first, I thought maybe our shared experience of parenting alone would bring us back together. I hoped we could work through our issues and rebuild our relationship. But my wife doesn’t want that. She’s convinced her life is better without me
According to Joleen, she’s the complete opposite of me. She claims she’s got everything under control and isn’t as tired anymore. She says that taking care of just herself and our son has made her life much easier.
I know I messed up. I should have been a better husband. After all the stress and exhaustion of trying to balance equal custody, I’ve decided to talk to my lawyer about changing things up. It’s not an easy decision, but I feel like it might be the best move for everyone involved.
I told my lawyer that I want to opt out of equal custody and start paying child support instead. It wasn’t an easy choice, but I think it’s necessary for my own well-being and for the sake of our son. I spoke to Joleen about it too. She was surprised at first, but I think she understands where I’m coming from. She’s agreed to sit down with me and our lawyers to figure out the details.
