I am the father of my 2.5yo daughter. I want to be her father, not a "McDonald's dad" or "Disney Dad". I just want to do the right thing... I was also afraid of her growing up not knowing her.

Initially my STBXW's attorney fought for sole custody - using the unfit father argument.

In the end I got joint shared legal and physical custody with 6 of 14 overnights, when I wanted full 50/50. In NY, custody time is not linked to child suppport - so no financial reasons.

This custody arrangement has been going on for 3 mos now. And it is very difficult. Both being apart from her for several days at a time, and challenging to raise her right and coming up with new activities. I'll have to keep this up for another 15 years - can be very scary at times... I never planned or desired to be a single dad, but my STBXW gave me no options. I never really had to think much about fatherhood - now wanting to be a great father and wanting to restore a failed marriage is all I think about

Hoping that I can win back my wife, for my daughter's sake as well as my own, during the course of our legal separation - most tell me not to hold out hope.