My wife left her 10 year old son and I in March. He is struggling so much he has missed a lot of school. So we have a meeting with an Educational Welfare Officer coming very soon regarding his poor attendance. A person who has the power to take him from me. Those missed school days are also days I had to take off work, days I don't get paid for. This, combined with the fact I have had to reduce my work hours to accommodate taking my child to and from school/holiday times etc, has left us in a precarious place financially. But the kicker was really Christmas day. My family are all over 3hrs away. We live near her family and went to her parents every year for dinner. Always a big day, up to about 15 people. This year it was just my boy and I. And as much as I tried to fill the space there was no getting away from it. So, unfortunately, times are a bit tinged with unhappiness in general. (In case anyone is wondering. We are getting help. And I have every hope and belief that things will turn out well in the end. For both of us. You never know what a new day may bring)