In today’s episode I offer my thoughts to a listener question. This mother asks how to move beyond resentment when her partner (the father) refuses to step up as a parent despite many conversations where she expresses her feelings and needs. This is a really big question and of course there is always more nuance to these situations that I can possibly account for, but I give it my best shot. Many mothers find themselves in this situation, so if this sounds like your life – then please know you are not alone. In discussing my thoughts on this, I explore how patriarchy is implicated, some of the possible benefits for fathers behaving this way, some ideas on where to go next, and finally, I suggest the often avoided reality that sometimes we simply outgrow relationships.

I also want to let you know that I have an earlier episode on this similar topic that I recorded as a round table conversation with Mike Dyson and Erin Spahr. If you want to dive deeper, please head there after listening to this one as it is slightly different.