I Let My Son Go Live With His Dad—Then I Realized He Needed Saving
When my 14-year-old son, Mason, asked to live with his dad after the divorce, I agreed—even though it broke my heart. I wanted him to have the chance to reconnect with Eddie, the fun, easygoing father he’d missed. At first, everything seemed good. Mason called constantly, sent goofy selfies, and shared photos of burnt waffles and late-night adventures.
But slowly, the calls faded. Texts became brief. Eventually—silence. Then his teachers started reaching out. Missing homework. Disconnection. A cheating incident that shocked everyone. “He looked lost,” one teacher said.
That word wouldn’t leave me. This wasn’t my careful, conscientious boy. When I tried calling him, he didn’t answer. Hours passed. Nothing. I stared at the last picture he’d sent—him and his dad holding up a burnt pizza—and for the first time, it didn’t look funny. Something was wrong.
I called Eddie, gently, trying not to start a fight. His only response was a long, tired sigh.
The story continues…