I'm a bit of a mess, actually.
This afternoon, the social workers came and talked to daughter. She told them she'd like to go back and live with her mum, who's patched things up with her ex. I've known for the past seven weeks that this could happen. I know from past experience things *will* go tits-up for her mum again but I'll bite the bullet and let daughter go back, as that's what she wants.

I'm not... surprised, as such. But hell, I'm disappointed.

It's been bloody awesome having her around. Is trying to make your kid happy supposed to be this hard?
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 3 Jun 2009, 20:38, 20 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

I'm sorry Noel
As you say, she could have said it at any time, but I know it must be really hard for you.
( fuck shit up the best you never had, Wed 3 Jun 2009, 20:40, Reply)

I've had my little cry
But I'll mtfu eventually.

My mate who's ear I'd usually bend right now is on the other side of the world *pout*

Edit: I forgot - thanks.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 3 Jun 2009, 20:43, Reply)

It doesn't mean she doesn't love you.
But on the whole, little girls like to be with their mum.
( girlinthehole, Wed 3 Jun 2009, 21:00, Reply)

I know she loves me.
She told me so :)

It's true, she wants things to be back how they were. I honestly don't believe that can happen, but I know I need to let things take their course. Who knows, I may be pleasantly surprised.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 3 Jun 2009, 21:01, Reply)

That's an arse, I'm sorry to hear it.
But I don't think she'll forget those weeks with you. She may yet change her mind in the future.

You're keeping her happy which is the most important thing, and I hope she'll realise that. You sound like a great dad, putting her wants and needs first.

*manhugs*
(Potty Jag har smör i min rumpspringa, Wed 3 Jun 2009, 21:02, Reply)

Aww, thanks!
The day she moved in, I told her she always had the final say where she wanted to stay, even if that meant she'd go back to her mum.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 3 Jun 2009, 21:19, Reply)

Good man
good to see you sticking to your word... that will count for a lot with her if she does reconsider. "Daddy can be trusted".
(Potty Jag har smör i min rumpspringa, Wed 3 Jun 2009, 21:28, Reply)

*Man-Hugs*
as the father of a 2.5yo girl myself, my heart goes out to you.
during dark times i have pondered what it would be like if 2ndmrsblaireau69 took weebabyblaireau69 away with her if things went pear-shaped...it fills me with dread.

BUT i have learned, over the years, by witnessing divorces and break-ups and deaths and all sorts of human misery that we are made of stern stuff and that kids always remember their parents love...
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Wed 3 Jun 2009, 21:15, Reply)

Tis true
and I know she loves me, we laugh... a lot!

Thankyou folks, you've given me a boost. I'm gonna go have a glass of wine and play some chess, and get a good night's sleep.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 3 Jun 2009, 21:20, Reply)

I felt really choked
when I read this.

I only wish my dad had had half the love for me that you have for your daughter.

Kids don't realise how lucky they are... but one day she will.

And parenting must be the hardest, most thankless job in the world.
( warmfuzzies Isn't here, Wed 3 Jun 2009, 21:42, Reply)

I've been a full-time parent for seven weeks
and an every-other-weekend parent for the other twelve years.

Parenting is the hardest, most fulfilling job in the world.

Hey fuzzy... we miss you!
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 3 Jun 2009, 21:45, Reply)

Aww fank yoo
*hugs* I miss you guys too.

I lurk a bit, but I'm not here enough to be able to follow conversations and keep up with all the threads. I feel like an outsider and all left out :( AND I haven't been able to think of a QOTW answer for aaages.

You can be my dad if you want. Actually, that feels a bit wrong!
( warmfuzzies Isn't here, Wed 3 Jun 2009, 22:23, Reply)

You're no outsider!
Some of these conversations are bloody hard to follow. I give up on most of them myself. It's always good to see a post from someone who isn't one of the people who's name you see pop up time after time...
(Potty Jag har smör i min rumpspringa, Wed 3 Jun 2009, 22:48, Reply)

Well fank yoo too!
I just miss the days when I was unemployed and I was here all day and nobody posted anything without me knowing about it... Those were the days of long HSH threads that went in a straight line instead of all over the place so you knew when someone had posted something... And I got all the memes n stuff... And Fuzzyhugs were freely distributed... and and and

*nostalges*

*wishes for unemployment*

*remembers that I had no money to fritter away on frivolities like bills and rent*
( warmfuzzies Isn't here, Wed 3 Jun 2009, 23:29, Reply)

If parenting is thankless
There's something wrong.
(porkylips looks better as the sun goes down., Thu 4 Jun 2009, 8:37, Reply)

I've been trying to write a reply to this...
...and I keep deleting them.

So as a father who sees far too little of his daughter:

*manhug*
( TheMattInAHat has a particular... odour..., Wed 3 Jun 2009, 22:27, Reply)

Dude...
*manhugs*
( Devil_In_Tights the *real* DiT!, Wed 3 Jun 2009, 22:59, Reply)

Damn!
So sorry to hear. Can't imagine what you're going through. BGB is quite right about little girls wanting to be with their mothers. I'm sure that the time you've spent together will always be important to her, come what may. She now has had the experience of living with you, and knows it's a viable option if things go wrong in the future at her Mum's.

Hats off to you, for being a good Dad. It's got to hurt badly. Your respect for her decision can only strengthen her trust and reliance upon you. Not that I'm surprised at how you've dealt with this at all. You are, as they say around here, good people.

/hugs & respect
from an Internet Weirdo
( cackers, Wed 3 Jun 2009, 23:35, Reply)

It's good to know
There are still people who really make an effort at the parenting. Just hang in there, as long as she knows your love is still unconditional you will ALWAYS be her refuge. You rock.
(porkylips looks better as the sun goes down., Thu 4 Jun 2009, 8:39, Reply)

Thanks, everyone.
I woke up today in a surprisingly brilliant mood. I think yesterday's vent of emotion really helped me out.

I've had a couple of really supportive and helpful gazzes too, which is wonderful.

This place truely amazes me sometimes. Amongst all the grot and outrage and spunk jokes, there's a lot of lovely people here.

Ok, ok. I'm manning the fuck up right now.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Thu 4 Jun 2009, 9:04, Reply)