For those who left difficult relationships with young children / any regrets?

[SeekingClarity02]

I read a post on here recently where separated parents were talking about the pain of missing their children, and many said that even years later the sadness never completely goes away and it's still heartbreaking every time they leave to go to the other parent..

I’d be really interested to hear from people who left emotionally abusive relationships where there were children involved.

If leaving meant sharing custody and only seeing your child part of the time, would you still make the same decision knowing what that separation from your child would feel like?

Do you ever find yourself wondering whether you would have stayed, despite the relationship being emotionally abusive, just to be able to see your child every day?

Or, looking back, do you feel that although missing your child is incredibly painful, it was still the right decision for you and for them?

I’m particularly interested in hearing from parents who left when their children were very young, as that’s the situation I’m trying to get my head around.

Not one regret. I would have welcomed shared care if that had been an option but he was very inconsistent. Mine is now almost 18 and a lovely, well adjusted young man who has known almost no adversity in his charmed life. I guarantee he would not be that if we had stayed together.

My experience isn’t the same - DV before the baby was born and he was jailed (so couldn’t and I wouldn’t grant access). I have thought almost daily “this is bloody hard, but it would be so much harder if I had to do this with someone like him”. If you’re not happy, your child isn’t happy. Good luck x

Gosh im the opposite, have them full time would have loved a break i see it as one of the positives!

Thankyou everyone, this is very helpful to read x