Amber99Casual Contributor
Seperated Couple Co-Parenting a Son
Hi everyone I hope you're well. I'd like to share our story of my international expartner and I. We are co-parenting our 2year old boy. We met on a sunny say at bondi beach in december 2022. We then dated a few months before she fell pregnant. (our DNA matched up). Neither of us planned for this to happen. My family found out with a big shock. We maintained constant communication untill this day.
She then returned to her country to give birth with the support of her family and culture. I travelled to see her and our son for his 1st birthday for 2 and half months while putting my last name on his birth certificate and granting him Australian citizenship by descent.
As of December this year they have returned back to Australia. We live seperately and the boy alternates spending time with his mum and dad.
The main problem to solve is will they go back for an extended period of time back to her country of origin, or will they stay so the son lives close to his father?
We have arranged him to start childcare in the coming weeks and we both plan on working to support ourselves and our child. We receive both family tax benefits and a childcare subsidy.
She is here on a tourist visa and will have to apply for a partner visa to stay. Her visa runs out in June which leaves us 3 months to come up with the funds and fill out the forms. Our son has applied for an australian passport so he can leave anytime incase of a family emergency back at mama's home.
She is home sick and feels incredibely sad to leave her son at times. She misses her family and she is here alone. I live with bi polar disorder and it is especially hard for me to hold down a job and keep a balanced mood.
We aim to communicate better as there is a language barrier between us. Just getting along is a challenge too. (with family members also)
We have recently reached out to Sane, Relationships Australia and Anglicare for counselling.
Obviously we want the best for our son to grow up with two parents even if we don't live together.
Our main concern is to find a place funded for her to live with our son while I look to move out of home and find a job. We then may need an immigration lawyer to explain the partner visa process.
Everyones mental wellbeing is on the line here.
Any comments please tell us what you think. Thankyou.
