Has anyone done the long distance parenting thing?

Question

I have recently divorced and my situation is not good. My house is going to be foreclosed on the I don't have any family nearby to help or let me stay with while I put my life back together. I need to pay my ex child support which cuts into my budget pretty tremendously. I have a large extended family in Massachusetts. My ex insists on staying here with her parents and her new boyfriend. I feel like I am in a situation where I need to go back home. I need from anyone who has done the long distance parenting thing. With school vacations and summer breaks.I understand I will be missing a lot, I would just like to know some of the stuff that I could expect.

Answer 1

A year or 2 after my ex and i split up, I moved away with my eldest son and the child my ex and i had together. It wasn't ideal as i don't drive but my ex does. It was a good 3-4 hour drive from where we used to be so him visiting every weekend wasn't an option like before. But this is what my ex and i did (we were lucky enough to have a good relationship so it made all this possible).

He would have him one in 3 weekends, half the school holidays and every other birthday and christmas (alternating). He called every day, even though it was often for only 5 minutes and wrote a letter once a week.

I know it was incredibly hard on my ex (we now live a lot closer) but it was do-able. Even if you don't have a chance to visit as often (i'm from the UK so not sure of distances in the US, lol) then call daily, write letters and try to be there for every important school event.

Good luck! It won't be easy but when you get into a routine it will be a lot easier.