The yelling, or at the very least, the general frustration with her son was the primary red flag for me early in the relationship, Anita. My ex suffers from depression and anxiety, but it seemed so often her frustrations poured over onto her son. He was a toddler, and that isn’t easy, but everything just always felt so frustrating for her. She claimes that she yells/fusses/etc. at him much less now that he is older (he about 4-1/2 now). Perhaps things are better in her life but I know there are moments of frustration still. As she used to tell me, “Thick skin is required in this family.”

And, now, I do not feel my lack of a physical presence is his life is damaging him. He has his mother and stepfather there to dote on him. Now the distance is more damaging to me, as I know there are times when it’s jsut the two of them there when she could have him call. Oh, well.

Ryan