This post is for solo parents or those with majority custody.

I took my daughter to a sports class tonight, and the dad sitting next to me was talking about how his son trains five days a week and is in the top 1% in math at school thanks to his wife at home keeping her son busy with studying. He is 7.

Meanwhile, my daughter recently scored in the bottom 1% on her kindergarten assessment, and I never have time to train her up because she is still struggling with foundational pre-writing skills and has some learning disabilities. I obviously didn't share that with him because I don't want to lay out just how much I am struggling with our situation to a complete stranger.

I mentioned how hard it is for me to get my child to sports more than once a week because of my work schedule, and he legitimately asked, *“Well, don't you have a grandma or something who can take her?”

HAHA. Triggered!!!

No, sir. I fucking don't. I have no one. My parents were immigrants so now it's just me alone in the country with my child who's never met her dad, because he was a real winner and boy did I pick em good back then. No grandparents, no aunts or uncles, no relatives who can step in and help. My only living family is my dad and younger brother, and neither has the ability or willingness to build a consistent relationship or show up for us. It's JUST me.

And that interaction triggered something in me because I don't think people understand what it's like to do EVERYTHING alone for years on end. I've been doing this for almost six years, and it hasn't gotten easier.

I work full-time, rush everywhere, constantly feel behind, never know what the hell we're having for dinner, work stress and my new toxic boss are destroying my mood and motivation, I try to keep up with my daughter's developmental and school struggles, and somehow try to be a good mom through all of it. Showing up for school events? Forget about it. I can't afford to miss work, get behind and lose my job. Everything is always a hot mess. There's no break, no backup plan, no one to call when I'm sick or exhausted.

I watch other families have the time, resources, and support to get their kids to activities multiple days a week while I'm over here barely surviving. I know kids don't NEED to be in a sport, but honestly, I need to get out and meet people too. It's for me too. We barely have any friends. And then I feel guilty because my daughter is struggling in school, and I already feel like I'm not doing enough, even though I'm stretched so thin.

Can anyone genuinely relate to this? How do you stay positive and calm? And how do you find hope?

Sometimes I honestly despise my life, because this constant grind feels so relentless and lonely. I don't want to spend my life merely surviving, but I guess I have no choice do I?

If you can relate to this, how are you surviving and living a fulfilling life instead of feeling so mad, sad and hopeless all the time? I dream about one day having the support my child and I need

thanks for reading

My ex and I were very on and off, but he officially left in August. I was just about to go through the child support process but then I realized he is living in his car and working under the table at a beach near where we met. The last time he sent me money was 3 weeks ago and it was $100. He was talking to our kids on the phone last night and my daughter told him our projector isn’t working. He started getting upset because he’s the one who brought the projector but then she told him it was because mommy needs to pay the Internet bill. I then could hear him laughing on the phone and saying “Mommy makes more than me, she can pay the Internet bill”. It’s true, I do make substantially more than him and I’m 6 years younger than him, but he has zero bills right now and I’m doing this all alone. My bills are just over $3000 a month and I’m 22 years old. I already get EBT and subsidized daycare. When he said this it felt like such a slap in the face. He has told me before he explicitly went for an under the table job so he wouldn’t be forced to pay me anything. Up until last week he wasn’t even calling the kids because “he didn’t want to look at me and it hurts to see them” which I already know is an excuse for not being present. Even just last week I asked him for $40 because my car was running out of gas and I’m on biweekly pay and I had no money to get their Halloween costumes. He told me he was going to help me, then offered $20, then told me to ask my casual fwb for money in a joking manner. I ended up declining the $20 and working for 5 extra hours on the weekend so I could afford my kids costumes in time for their Halloween party that night.

This man left me walking in the rain for a month with no car after he destroyed our last car in anger. And then abandoned me. Now he’s working under the table and won’t pay me anything and wonders why I hate him so much. I’m thinking getting him on child support is useless if he’s just going to cheat the system. He said if I ask him nicely he will be nice too but I literally tried that last week and he brought up my personal life and I ended up busting my ass extra hard anyway. I feel so stupid. He has no bills, why can’t he help me? Why do I have to be the martyr in this?? My kids most of all?? I have to tell them why I can’t afford fun things, I feel so guilty giving them money for the book fair wondering if I’ll be able to cover their daycare bill, why am I in this hell?

I just want to say

In this life which sometimes feels like a shit hole

It is still a shit hole above so many other holes

I had previously lost a child

Before I had my current child

And all I know is

This hole feels relative comfortable

right now.

I became a single mom to my now 23 month old when he was 6 months old. I’ve been doing everything alone - he even comes to work with me. So it’s 24/7. Truthfully, I wouldn’t have it any other way, and I’m fortunate I am able to bring him with me to work. I have been trying to get him into daycare, but no luck yet.

Anyways, my son’s father sees our son every other Saturday for 6 hours (depending on if he actually takes him).

I recently found a local group for single parents to meet, chat, support one another etc. I figured it’d be a good thing for me because I have next to zero support system.

I have my mom that helps here and there financially, which I am VERY grateful for. But no help when it comes to watching my son to give me a break. I try not to bother my mom much as she works in healthcare and comes home to take home of my disabled brother. I know she’s tired too.

Anyways, back to the support group. We all introduce ourselves, explained a little about our situations.

To make a long story short; I ended up being ridiculed and told I’m NOT a single parent. A few of the people made a point to say “you have no idea how much some of us would LOVE to have 6 hours to ourselves”

Now before I say anything further, am I in the wrong or is that just asinine???? I ended up leaving in tears. I felt and feel so stupid, like am I being over dramatic? Am I actually not a single parent? Believe me, I’m not trying to “steal” anyone’s title, while I also don’t think anyone DREAMS Of being a single parent.

I’m sorry if this is all over the place, I still am just upset and feel foolish for trying to look for support and people to talk to in the community.

Hi there, just looking to get some advice on my situation. I have an only child, a daughter, and she’s five years old. The first four years of my daughter‘s life were extremely difficult with her dad having a psychotic break, me undergoing very stressful situations, having health issues, managing a full-time job and now raising her alone with the help of my parents. I’ve always felt guilty for her, not having the normal family experience and also having no siblings. I try to do my best to make holidays exciting, do fun activities with her, and do whatever I can in my capacity to ensure she has an enjoyable childhood. Given my circumstances, I moved back in with my parents and I’m back in the town where I grew up. One of my cousins reached out a while back to invite us to her daughter‘s birthday party who is also my daughter‘s age. I went to the party so that my daughter could connect with a cousin and feel like she has more to her family than just her mom and her grandparents. My daughter loves my cousin’s daughter, and they both have a good time together. However, I have not had a good history with this cousin. Growing up, she and her mom (my aunt) were very abusive towards me. They now act like there were no issues between us growing up, and I seem to go along with it for the sake of my daughter having a little cousin. But the more I hang out with them, the more resentful I feel for how I was treated and how much of that shaped my life later on. I really do not want to be engaging with these toxic people, but feel guilty for taking away the relationship that my daughter has with the little girl. In addition, my cousin also recently got into an argument with my father and said some horrible things about him to me and him directly as well. This family really has no boundaries and I feel like they feel like they can continue to disrespect us without any consequences. Is it worth continuing this relationship for my daughter?

Hi all,

I am so confused right now and would love some other single parent perspectives.

I have been separated for 3 years, my choice. When we were together, we got along fine, no big arguments or violence, but we are both neurodivergent and didn't know at the time and operated on completely different levels. I'm hyper and have a growth mindset and love change and spontaneity and he loves stability. We were both working against each other and it broke down to the point where we weren't rreally talking, he wouldn't discuss anything because it was too confronting and I was feeling stonewalled and suffocated.

We now do 50/50 and coparent really well. We do weekend soccer together and the main holidays and have built a really great support for our kids. But not having the the time kills both of us. It's so brutal and we are both so depressed without them.

All I want is my family unit back. But I am so scared that I'll go back and will instantly feel trapped again. I can't tell if this is just a fear of commitment that I have or that he is the wrong person for me and that I only want to go back because of the kids.

Please help! I need opinions because I am so lost.

Has anyone separated but arranged to live close to their ex, like in two apartments in the same building, a duplex, or even a shared house?
My biggest concern about separating is spending time away from my kids with 50/50 custody. I’d love an arrangement where both parents can still be involved in their everyday lives.
Has anyone tried this? Did it work, and what were the challenges?

Life after divorce is not easy, especially when raising a child on my own. Some days, I feel completely exhausted, overwhelmed by stress, and lonely. Sometimes, I wish I had someone by my side to share the responsibilities of life and face its challenges together.

But no matter how difficult life gets, I always remind myself to stay strong, not only for myself but also for my child.

\*\*TL;DR:\*\* Divorced dad with 50/50 custody of two young boys. Very different parenting styles between households. My youngest recently told me he gets called a crybaby when he’s upset at his mom’s house. Struggling with knowing I can’t control what happens there and trying to focus on being a safe, loving, supportive parent while still raising resilient, accountable boys.

34M, divorced, two boys who are 7 and 10. We split custody week on, week off.

I’ll start by saying I know things could be a lot worse. The boys are healthy, loved, and overall really great kids. Better than I probably deserve. I’ve also had to come to terms with the fact that their mom and I have pretty different parenting styles, and there’s only so much I can control.

I try to parent with high expectations but equally high support. I want my boys to be resilient, independent, respectful, and accountable, but I also want them to know that having emotions doesn’t make them weak.

My oldest is more reserved and tends to keep things to himself. He’s very logical, but underneath that he’s still a 10-year-old with big feelings and insecurities. My youngest is the opposite. He’s sensitive, wears his heart on his sleeve, and is incredibly hard on himself. He wants to do everything right and really struggles when he feels like he’s disappointed someone.

Transitions between houses have always been tough, especially for my youngest. I’ve suspected for a while that part of it is because he feels like he has to bottle things up at his mom’s house.

Her new husband is a fitness influencer, very much the David Goggins, tough-love, no-excuses type. He has openly
admitted that love and affection is from their mom. Fortunately I’m not currently dealing with it (we put no corporal punishment in our newest custody agreement) but when he was tbh boyfriend he used excessive exercise as a form of punishment. Whatever floats your boat, but personally I don’t think that’s the best approach to raising young kids, especially ones who are already navigating two households.

Today my youngest had a pretty tough emotional breakdown and finally opened up about some of it. He told me that when he cries at his mom’s house, he gets called a crybaby and told to go to his room until he can sort himself out.

That one really hurt to hear.

I’m all for teaching kids to regulate their emotions, but I think there’s a pretty big difference between teaching a child how to work through his feelings and teaching him that those feelings are something to be ashamed of.

Both boys have asked to spend more time with me. And as much as I’d love that, I’m realistic about the situation. Pursuing more custody isn’t necessarily going to change much, and regardless, their mom and her husband are going to be part of their lives.

I can’t control what happens in another household. I can’t make other adults see things the way I do, and I’m not interested in turning this into some competition over who’s the better parent. That’s not fair to the boys.

So I guess I’ve come to the conclusion that my job is to be their soft place to land.

To support them, encourage them, build them up, and make sure they never have to question whether they’re loved. To hold them accountable when they screw up, but also make sure they know that making mistakes, crying, or having a bad day doesn’t make them any less worthy of love or respect.

I worry about the long-term effects of growing up between two homes. I know divorce doesn’t automatically mean kids are destined to struggle, but I can’t help wondering what all of this is doing to them emotionally, especially at such young ages.

I try to lead with the golden rule in our house. Treat people how you want to be treated. Be kind, generous, respectful, and compassionate. But also have boundaries, stand up for yourself, and understand that not everyone in this world is going to treat you with the same kindness you give them.

I want to raise good men. Not just tough men, or successful men, but genuinely good human beings who are comfortable with who they are and how they feel.

I guess I’m not really looking for answers as much as I am venting. It’s just hard knowing your kids are struggling somewhere you can’t protect them, and that sometimes all you can do is love them through it.

For those of you raising kids between two very different households, how do you make peace with the things you can’t control? How do you help your kids build resilience without teaching them to shut down emotionally?

My wife left this world a week and a half ago. She took her own life after struggling with PPD. We had her in therapy and found meds that were working. We were surrounded by friends and family who were helping with the baby. She was so deeply cherished and loved by all, but it was not enough to save her.

We just had the memorial yesterday. For the past week, my life has been consumed with all the ugly planning that has to happen when someone passes. Now that there's nothing else ahead, the reality of my situation is starting to sink in.

I'm 33, we have a beautiful 5 month old son. My parents have always been very supportive, they made my son and I a room to stay in their house for now. I am just having trouble fathoming how I am meant to get back to "real life" - I work a demanding job, we have a home 15 mins from my parents, but my wife was a SAHM and that was always part of the plan.

Not only does the grief feel impossible right now, but the logistics do as well. My parents are in their mid to late 60s, I know I cannot expect them to raise this child while I work forever.

I guess I am just screaming into the void right now, but I would appreciate any practical advice from parents who have lost their SO. We spent so long planning our lives together, all the things we wanted to do, how we wanted our family to function, but all of those plans hinged on having her by my side.

I’m a mom to a 5-year-old daughter, and I’m at the point in my life where I’m in a relationship that feels genuinely serious to me. I’m starting to think about introducing my boyfriend to my daughter, and I’d really love to hear from people who have actually been through this experience.
I know all the usual advice about waiting until a relationship is stable, keeping the first meeting casual, and letting the child set the pace. I’m not necessarily looking for a checklist of what I’m supposed to do. I’m more interested in hearing about what the experience was really like for you and your kids.
For those of you who have introduced a serious partner to your young children:
● How long had you been together before you introduced them, and what made you feel ready?
● How did you prepare your child beforehand? Did you tell them you were dating someone, or just explain that they were going to meet a friend?
● What did your first meeting actually look like, and how did your child react?
● What surprised you about the experience, either positively or negatively?
● Did your child struggle with jealousy, changes in your attention, or adjusting to seeing you in a romantic relationship?
● What helped your child build a relationship with your partner naturally, without feeling pressured?
● Looking back, is there anything you wish you’d done differently?
I’m excited about the possibility of this next chapter, but I also recognize that this is a big change for my daughter, and I want to approach it thoughtfully. I want to make sure she continues to feel secure in our relationship while also allowing myself to build a healthy, serious relationship with someone I care about.
I’d especially love to hear from parents of younger children and people whose introductions went well, as well as those who encountered unexpected challenges. I’m interested in the real-life experiences, not just the ideal scenario.
What did this transition actually look like for your family, and what do you wish someone had told you beforehand?

A little more context about my situation:
My daughter is 5, and her dad has primary physical custody. I have parenting time with her on alternating weekends, so I’m mindful that the time I do have with her is important and that I want to be intentional about how I introduce someone new into her life.

My boyfriend and I have been together for almost 5 months, and this relationship has developed into something that feels genuinely meaningful and serious to me. I’m not looking to introduce her to every person I date (she’s only met one other man and I was with him for almost 4 years) and I’m not trying to rush into creating a blended family. I’m considering this because I can realistically see this relationship having a long-term future.

He’s someone I care deeply about, and I want to give a potential relationship between him and my daughter the opportunity to develop naturally, without putting expectations on either of them. I also want to be realistic about the fact that even if I’m confident in my relationship, my daughter may need her own time to adjust.
I’m trying to find that balance between being thoughtful about my daughter’s emotional well-being and allowing myself to move forward in a relationship that matters to me.

Fully solo parent to a 6 month old. He’s a pretty high maintenance baby. Won’t sleep in his bassinet or crib, so we have to co-sleep, and he won’t sleep unless he’s on me or right next to me. He had a lot of feeding issues in the beginning, like oral ties. Just switched fully to formula, but he won’t take enough during the day, so I’m feeding him every 2 hrs at night.

Feeling constantly attached to him, but also not close enough? I barely see him during the week day, bc when he’s home with me, i’m spending most of that time cooking, cleaning, or getting ready for the next day.

The past two months, we’ve been hit with every daycare illness under the sun. Bills, car problems, and a billion little unexpected expenses.

Sorry to complain, I know it could be worse, but everything just feels so fucking hard right now. Does it get better when they’re older?

Any words of encouragement very much appreciated.

Does anyone feel guilty about missing silly milestones?

.

My litte one took his first sets at daycare sand I missed it.

My kiddo went trick or treating with his GiGi for the first time and I wasn't there.

As a working parent it hurts, not being there, but also I understand that in this situation I can't be there for everything.

I’m a young mom, and I’m really struggling with a decision that could affect my daughter and my future. I need honest, unbiased advice because I don’t want to make a decision based only on my emotions.
Currently, I live in a trailer in my baby daddy’s parents’ backyard with my two-year-old daughter. Living there has been emotionally difficult for me. I often feel like I don’t have enough privacy, independence, or space to live my life as a mother. I want a home where I can feel comfortable, establish my own boundaries, and raise my daughter without feeling like other people are constantly involved in my personal life.
My baby daddy is often not present because of his work hours and his involvement with crypto. I understand that people have responsibilities and different schedules, but I sometimes feel like I’m carrying a lot of the day-to-day parenting and emotional responsibility myself.
Now, I have a boyfriend who treats me better, and I’ve been considering moving in with him with my daughter. Part of me feels like this could be an opportunity to finally have a fresh start and build a more peaceful home environment.
However, I’m conflicted.
My concerns are:
Am I making a wise decision, or am I trying to escape an uncomfortable living situation?
Is it fair to my daughter to move her into a home with a man who isn’t her biological father?
Am I potentially trading one dependent living situation for another?
What should I consider before combining households with my boyfriend?
How do I handle co-parenting with my baby daddy if I move out?
Should I focus on getting my own place independently instead, even if that takes longer?
I don’t want to stay somewhere just because it’s familiar, but I also don’t want to rush into another living arrangement without thinking about the long-term consequences.
I want stability, peace, independence, and a healthy environment for my daughter. I also want to make a decision that is financially responsible and not just emotionally satisfying in the moment.
If you were in my position, what factors would you consider before deciding? I’m open to hearing things I might not want to hear, as long as the advice is constructive and respectful. I would especially appreciate advice from single mothers, women who have blended families, or people who have been in similar situation

I’m a 36yr old F, I have my children every other week/weekend! I’ve tried dating, but no one is truly up to my standards. They lie and don’t have respect to simple boundaries. Anyways, I’m at the point where I don’t want to be in a relationship anymore and just focus on my own growth and my children when I have them. But then I get lonely 🤦🏽‍♀️ how are you all surviving

Upon their return from a holiday with the other parent, my 5 y/o mentioned that an adult friend of my ex’s entered a room without any clothes on, and specifically mentioned having seen said adult’s genitals.

Though I’m certain nothing further untoward occurred, and it could have been accident, I was repulsed by the notion of another adult apparently parading around naked while other families were sharing a common home.

Just to be clear, this didn’t happen in the changing rooms of a swimming pool, or something similar - it happened in a room of the holiday home they were staying in.

I’ve mentioned this to a couple of other people who didn’t seem to think it was a big deal. This thinking at least seems to come from the fact the other adult was the same gender as my child. To me, this should make no difference, but that’s only my opinion.

I did approach the other parent about this and, alarmingly to me, they have shut down any conversation about it, just denying it, and rejecting the specifics of the situation.

Am I overreacting in my concern?

EDIT: today I tried asking my child a little more about this, and they got sheepish before stating that the other parent had told them not to tell me such things, and claimed they’d “accidentally” said it. I’m even more concerned now.

RANT

Am I crazy for being against this?

I need to rant because WHAT IS MY EX THINKING?!

My ex has zero custody of our kids, zero and sees them 15 hours a month or less, supervised, and lives 4 hours away. He hopes that when the kids are older, they'll be more comfortable with him and they'll eventually have 1-1 time. He does nothing to make that happen. I have no problem with him for the most part. My ex chose to be away and that is something he has to answer to in the future. I live a blissful life and my kids and I are doing amazing!!!!!

The problem? He just told me that when he gets out of the military ( 3 years) his dad is moving in with him and they're going to follow me and MY kids.

I have a HUGE problem with My ex's dad.

My ex FIL is toxic, verbally and emotionally abusive, racist, misogynistic, has narrow extremely religious views, and bigoted. He says the most disgusting things about people based on their appearance and stereotypes, and he says them with his WHOLE CHEST and more! He screams and throws tantrums, tries to intimidate whenever someone disagrees with him. Think mafia boss throwing a fit, and he'll do it anywhere. He genuinely thinks the people who bomb Planned Parenthood are the good guys.

I've dealt with this man throughout my marriage to his son ( and yes the apple doesnt fall far from the tree). I have no problem standing up to my ex FIL, and honestly, he's terrified of me because I will call him out every single time. I am a Boundary queen....My kids and I have seen ex FIL maybe 2-3 times in TEN YEARS. That's more than enough for my kids and me. I shouldn't have to stand up to him or be ready to all the time.

So when my ex told me his plan, I immediately said that if his dad is moving in with him, "the kids and I are moving away," I was reactive and didnt think but also, my body and brain said, RUN. after I calmed down, I said I'm happy to facilitate visitation with their dad, but I will NOT allow his father to have regular access to my children and influence them. He is toxic.

My ex responded with, "Well, he's my dad, and he doesn't have many years left."

Okay? I understand that's your dad, but WHY does that mean my children and ME need to be subjected to his abuse regularly? Just because you're used to his behavior doesn't mean our kids should have to tolerate it. RIGHT?!!!

I don't care if my kids dad lives 10 minutes away or 4 hours away. I want him to have a relationship with our kids. But I refuse to have ex FIL regularly around my children.....YES, I know it's 3 years away, but theyre both unpredictable, and honestly, this could happen sooner. ...WTF???!!!

I’m interested in hearing from women who are single or divorced mothers, especially those raising children without much family support nearby.

With the rising cost of living, expensive housing, childcare costs, bills, groceries and other everyday expenses, I often wonder how single mothers manage everything on their own.

For those of you in this situation:

- How do you manage financially on one income?

- Do you work full-time, part-time, or rely on any additional support?

- How do you balance work, childcare, school runs and household responsibilities?

- Are you able to save anything for emergencies or the future?

- Do you receive any support from your ex-partner, family, or the government?

I’m particularly interested in hearing from women who don’t have parents or relatives nearby to help with childcare and day-to-day life.

Please feel free to share your experiences, whether positive or difficult. I know everyone's circumstances are different, and I'm hoping to understand how women navigate this reality in practical terms.

So I keep seeing news stories about having to have minimum 72 hours' worth of food, water, etc. as well as a go bag with important docs, cash, etc. This article freaked me right out:

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/oct/23/tinned-mackerel-hand-crank-radios-and-bags-for-poo-crisis-prepping-guides-around-the-world

I completely recognize the importance of this! However I'm paralyzed by the logistics.

I'm a solo parent, child is diagnosed with autism (therefore VERY picky eater), we have a cat and a dog. And I'm diagnosed with adhd so that is probably part of the overwhelm.

Working full time with no support, I'm in survival mode at the best of times. I'm struggling to get my kid to eat at the best of times (I actually asked him about this yesterday - what would you eat if we only had canned food for a bit?)

This is mostly a vent I guess, that the thought of all this is overwhelming. The cost of all the supplies you're supposed to have, the logistics of rotating things so they don't go bad, backup medications - how do I afford that - supplies for the pets and what if we had to leave, how would I manage that ??

We've had relatively short power and water outages that I've navigated with a camp stove and solar lights, and it hasn't been long enough for food to go bad, and hasn't happened in deep winter, knock wood.

If anyone has this set up, any advice?

I am going back to work after a couple years of getting over psychological abuse from my ex. My kid's parent left our joint home. I moved for him years ago, and now I'm in a city all alone. I don't have family around. Leaving this city is not an option.

Ex is a narc and in the picture but for 1.5 days in the week and mostly weekends. He would like nothing more than to do all drop offs and pickups everyday of the week and then try to suggest that our child stay with him 100% of the time.

I have toughened up a lot and had to stand my ground to even just have 50/50. In the past I was the breadwinner so automatically spent less time with my child when they were young and not in school, and ex made a big thing of that. Claiming that he had more claim on our kid's upbringing.

Unfortunately I nearly fell for him saying I was a bad mother and nearly left. After therapy and reconciling with my family that my ex estranged me from, I was able to understand how twisted he is, how much abuse I endured and realize I'm actually a really good mom. I have rebuilt myself. But my savings are running out and I have to go back to work.

I have a future job at my kid's school, I've interviewed and all, but they have no vacancies at present.

Question: how can I manage drop off and pickups to my kid's school on the days when I'm due to start work at my school job at 8-8.15am and probably can't leave until 3.30-4pm and all the school meetings etc.

What do single parents do?! I have searched and applied for so many other jobs, even remote, but I have extensive experience as a teacher and I wouldn't be starting at a low salary either. So it makes logical sense to go back into teaching.

Should also note my kid adores their dad and all that he does. And would love to just have us live together rather than have to split their time with us all through the week.

If anyone has any sound advice or suggestions please let me know! Thank you

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this. But I feel like some single parents might be able to relate to this?
So long story short, I have been co-parenting my 7yo niece alongside her maternal grandmother for a year now.
My brother abandoned her at like 2 years old to choose the vagabond lifestyle. Nobody is even exactly sure where he is or if he's even in the same state anymore, But about once a week he messages me, asking for money on cash app or if I can get ahold of someone for him.

He's never expressed any kind of thought or concern for his daughter that I'm aware of. It's like she doesn't even exist to him.
But part of me feels compelled to show him photos of her and tell him what kind of person she's growing into.
But on the other hand I feel like I shouldn't even bother because I know he has a phone and I know he has her grandma's number and could call and talk to her or ask about her any time he wants to, but she has told me he never once has.

I just don't really know. I feel kind of weird communicating with my brother almost weekly while he has no idea his daughter could be sitting right next to me.
But also part of me doesn't even want him to know.

EDIT: Thanks for the advice and feedback from everyone. I definitely agree that if he hasn't wanted to be involved up until this, he doesn't really deserve to be updated with photos and such.
I guess I just needed to hear it from other people that I'm not doing anything wrong by not sending him photos and updates or even letting him know what's going on.
The whole reason I feel like I had to ask this in the first place is because school photos just came in and my niece's grandma told me I should send one to my brother, and I just really had this feeling of like, no... I don't want to do that.

Looking for good books to read to my kid. We’ve been separated since they were little, but they’re finally old enough to start asking some questions or be curious about their parents living in two different places. Looking for recommendations for good kids books to read together. I saw another post recommending Lou Caribou. Any other good ones you’ve picked up or heard of for the 4-7 year old crowd?

Thanks in advance.

I (23F) have twin three year olds. I'm a solo parent, so do it on my own. I'm entering into my final year of my bachelors and have been maintaining roughly an 8.0gpa. I need this because im planning on going down an extremely competitive post graduate pathway. I'm studying full-time and my kids are in preschool full-time. I have no time to do anything for myself and I struggle to keep on top of the housework. I don't want to have to extend out my degree out because at minimum, full-time my plan would take me 7 years. I feel misreable ngl. I'm wondering if all this weight and struggle right now will actually pay off or if I should just slow down so I can try enjoy life... maybe even have time to meet someone. At the moment it just feels like im an isolated, lonley pressure cooker and im not particularly enjoying it.

So any advice would be appreciated, please. 🥺

My 16 year old is a different person to the one I knew and loved a few years ago. We have been through a great deal. Bereavement (dad), two family cancers, divorce (from dad), neurodiversity and mental health issues (probably due to the other issues). Anyone have any good advice about getting through it? Are 'messed up' teens like this always or is there are chance to get them back in adulthood? Childhood was pretty happy and there were good times. Am I unrealistic?