A friend popped over today whose two teenage sons are struggling badly with alcohol and drugs. Every penny she has goes on them or trying to get them help, and she’s carrying it alone. It made me wonder about the parent on the other side of situations like this. I have female friends working more than one job just to keep their kids fed, clothed and with a safe roof over their heads. Sometimes they just want to breathe or have one day off, but they can’t because the dad left and was never really heard from again. I know this happens to men too. My lived experience just happens to be with women, so I’d genuinely like to hear the other side. If you were the parent who left and had little or no involvement afterwards, what happened? Do you contribute financially or know how your children are doing? How is your life now? Do you ever think about how the other parent is coping, or how your absence may have affected your children? I know every situation is nuanced and leaving a relationship is not the same as leaving your children. I’m specifically interested in people who left and then stopped being involved. No judgement. I’m genuinely interested in understanding what happens on the other side. submitted by /u/Londoner2053
Originally posted by u/Londoner2053 on r/AskMen