He’s a Great Dad… Just Not to My Child? (Anonymous Confession)
Sometimes the ones that come in just… sit with you.
This was one of those.
A mom wrote in, and I honestly found myself reading it more than once because there’s so many layers to it.
🤫 The Confession
“I had a baby with this guy. He’s a great dad… to his other kids.
We are trying to remain friends, and most of the time we are good at it.
He says he loves our child… but doesn’t show the same interest in our child.
How do I get him to actually show that interest he says he has?”
— anonymous
(lightly edited for clarity)
🤍 My Thoughts
Oof… this one is hard.
Like truly one of those where I kept typing, deleting, and retyping because there’s just so much to unpack.
First, I want to say this—your feelings are completely valid.
Seeing someone show up for other children, but not your own?
That’s not just frustrating… that’s heartbreaking.
And I can’t help but think about the child in this situation too… depending on their age, they’re going to start noticing that difference. And that hurts my momma heart.
I also found myself wondering a few things…
Does he show up in other ways?
Does he treat them equally for things like birthdays or holidays?
Is it emotional distance… or a lack of effort across the board?
Because those details matter.
💭 Can You Make Someone Show Up?
Here’s the hard truth…
I don’t think you can make someone show up as a parent.
That’s something they have to choose.
You can ask.
You can communicate.
You can set expectations.
But at the end of the day… effort is a decision.
And if someone isn’t making that choice, that says more than their words ever will.
🌸 What You Can Control
What you can do is be the best momma you can be.
And I know that might not feel like enough right now—but I promise you, your child will see it.
They will feel your love.
They will recognize who showed up.
They will remember who was there.
And that matters more than anything.
💬 Let’s Talk
I want to hear from you…
Can you make someone show up as a parent?
Or is that something they have to choose on their own?
Drop your thoughts below 👇
🤫 Want to Submit Your Own?
If you have something on your heart you want to share…
You can submit anonymously here 👀
👉 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1B0XOLYTu6XV_m9NsII-ASxgvYI4gu1Z7rjhZt9-x1KY/viewform
This is a safe space. No judgment. Just real life and real conversations 🤍