Jeff Bridges Making Up for Lost Time with His Daughters 

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@@AvgJane19 You two sound like great daughters. I hope mine feel the same way when they're older. Sometimes (frequently it turns out to my horror), its the Moms who use the bias of Family Law to chase away the Dad. Its a travesty for the Dads and Kids. You sound like you're hurting. Men get how important they are to the family, but frequently are so wrung dry by the Court that in order to survive, they have to leave. I'm in the same boat.

I always remember a good friend of mine saying, "kids need a fathers presence not his presents"..... I try implement that as much as I can.

@@LitoGeorge (I never received this post! And only saw it today when the one below wrote in. Typical! I get all the stupid stuff, but not THIS) I absolutely understand. I have a beautiful friend, a man, who was married to an abusive and manipulating woman. She made it impossible for him, thus he left ... so that his daughter would not grow up around fighting. He lost $thousands fighting for custody through the courts (not to mention the terrible toll emotionally; YOU ARE SO RIGHT ABOUT THIS!), he is a stellar human being, I have known him over 30 years ... gentle and funny; just a wonderful, intelligent, loving man. He FINALLY got custody (she was 12). His daughter is lovely but suffered at the hands of her mother. It is true that the courts are skewed in favour of women IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA. LitoGeorge, I am so very sorry! Even if you are not living with your children, just telling them that you love them and being REALLY PRESENT with them when you see them (I've no idea what your specific circumstances are!) makes a huge difference. Sometimes, I think, an even BIGGER difference ... because your children keep you in their hearts and minds and NO ONE can mess with THAT, no one can interfere with THAT SPACE. They actually think about you more because you are NOT there day in and day out. I have these incredible memories of living in San Francisco in the early 60s and my father, during our weekends together, taking me to the zoo (I sat on a baby elephant!! He knew one of the keepers), going to the Japanese tea gardens, the museums ... he read to me. You only get one father. Your're IT! My father TALKED to me, conversed with me, asked me what I thought. DOING THAT with me ... KEPT ME SAFE; because he was healthy, because he modeled a healthy male figure, I was never attracted to jerks. I tell all my male friends to talk to their daughters... that THAT is the best investment in their future that you can make. Good luck!!

@@lazenbytim That's perfect.