The Divorced Dad Blog

A clipboard checklist headed Day One listing a mattress, sheets, towels, a lamp and kids beds, with couch and big TV crossed off

New Apartment Checklist for Divorced Dads on a Budget

What to buy first for your new place after divorce, what it should cost, and how to set up a room your kids are glad to come to.

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An itemized receipt for a divorce listing filing fees, lawyer costs, a second apartment and a kids bunk bed, with the total reading It Depends

How Much Does a Divorce Cost? A Dad’s Real Breakdown

How much does a divorce cost? Real numbers for dads: court fees, lawyers, mediation, and the hidden costs like a second home, plus how to keep the bill down.

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Friendship rules every dad should teach his daughter: a father and his laughing daughter talking in the front seat of a car at golden hour, with icons for kind to all, close with few and walk away.

Friendship Rules Every Dad Should Teach His Daughter

The friendship rules every dad should teach his daughter early, how to talk about toxic friends without a lecture, and how to stay involved when you only have her part of the time.

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Halloween custody for divorced dads: a moonlit street of houses with jack-o-lanterns, and three ways to split trick-or-treat night.

Halloween Custody: How Divorced Dads Split Trick-or-Treat Night

Halloween custody for divorced dads: four ways to split trick-or-treat night, how to sort costumes and school parties early, and what to do on the years the night is not yours.

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Should you move out during a divorce: a father standing in the doorway at dusk holding a moving box and his keys, with icons for your kids, the money and your rights.

Should You Move Out During a Divorce? What Dads Need to Weigh First

Should you move out during a divorce? What leaving can affect for dads: your time with your kids, the house, and the money, plus a checklist to work through before you go.

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Divorced dad syndrome: what it really means. A father helping his son and daughter with homework at the kitchen table, with icons for guilt parenting, Disneyland dad and pulling away.

Divorced Dad Syndrome: What It Really Means (and How to Avoid It)

What divorced dad syndrome really means: guilt parenting, the Disneyland dad, and pulling away. Why it happens after divorce, and how to be the steady dad your kids need.

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1980s-style illustration of a divorced dad organizing a school calendar beside a backpack, with two homes in the background.

Back-to-School Co-Parenting: A Practical Checklist for Divorced Dads

Key takeaways Get on the school lists yourself. In most states both legal parents are entitled to records and communication. Build one calendar both homes can see, with term dates, events and who is doing which pickup. Agree who pays for what before anyone goes shopping, and put it in writing. Duplicate the basics so […]

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Staying a present dad when work keeps you away: a father on a video call with his son from a truck cab at night, with a suitcase and work boots nearby.

How to Stay a Present Dad When Work Keeps You Away

How to stay close to your kids after divorce when your job takes you away: consistency over hours, staying in the logistics, custody schedules that fit a rotation, and handling the guilt.

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The 3 C’s of divorce for children: Cause, Control and Cure, with a father and son walking together at sunset.

What Are the 3 C’s of Divorce? Both Versions Explained

The 3 C’s of divorce mean two different things. The 3 C’s for kids (Cause, Control, Cure) and the 3 C’s of co-parenting (Communication, Cooperation, Compromise), explained.

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Depleted dad syndrome: an exhausted father sitting on the edge of his bed at night holding a coffee mug, with signs listed as always exhausted, short fuse and running on empty.

Depleted Dad Syndrome: Signs You Are Running on Empty

What depleted dad syndrome is, the signs of dad burnout, why divorced dads are especially at risk, and how to refill the tank before you hit bottom.

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