Daughter asking about her dad

[SingleDav]

Hi I am new on here I am a single parent to a 4year old daughter. My daughter keeps asking about her dad who doesn’t want to be around. I don’t know what to tell her??

Tell her that he doesn't KNOW her so he doesn't know how lovable she is.

And the truth, as gently told as possible - good luck.

The truth at her level . If she did see him reassure her it is nothing you have done .

I told my Ds I didn’t know as I couldn’t even imagine not seeing him and I would never leave him.

I did omit telling him because he is a self centred arsehole who thinks of no one but himself

Maybe keep it factual? Do you have a picture you can look at together? Say this is your father, his name is X. I met him in x place, or he likes sport/music/some other small detail. He decided he wasn’t ready to be a daddy, so we don’t see him anymore.
Then something about families coming in all shapes and sizes, and yours is a family of two, which makes it extra special. Have you Come across The Family Book? Picture book on the shapes and sizes theme. Then talk about how much you love her, and how much other people love her (family and friends) and how special and wonderful she is, and how good she is at doing Xyz.

It is tough. My 4yo does still see his dad, but there isn’t an easy way to explain why we don’t live together etc anymore. Hope it goes ok. Be prepared to have the same conversation over and over

I will have this to come, my dd is only 2 but I have kept a little box of pictures and memories so at least she can put a face to the name "daddy" I'll tell her the truth but in a child way, mummy and daddy didn't get on and he lives far away which is true ish well over an hour and a half away.

I would always stick to the truth but in a way that your child will understand. Good luck x

If she seems sad about it I always say 'it's very sad that daddy doesn't live with us anymore and it's OK to be sad. I'm sad too. Whenever you want to talk about it I'll listen no matter what. I love you.' She's just gone 3.
I read a book called putting children first about parenting after divorce and the chapter about age appropriate conversations was a great help.