Alex's Answer

Hello, 

You are very welcome to Ask Alex today, thank you for getting in touch with your question. You are wondering why your dad left. 

It is hard for us to answer your question without knowing anything else about what is going on for you but it is completely natural to have questions about things that have happened in your life. We are presuming from what you have said that your dad has left your family home and the reasons for this weren’t made clear to you. 

Families can come in all different shapes and sizes, and the relationships within them are all completely individual too. Sometimes people do leave their families which has a massive impact, the reasons for this can completely vary, whether it is a breakdown in a relationship, things going on with mental/physical health, or sometimes it may seem like there is no obvious reason at all. When someone leaves a family, it can have a huge effect on everyone involved, and can take some time to get used to the new way things are. It is important to know however, that you are not responsible for other people’s actions or behaviours, you are not at fault here. This article may help you www.childline.ie/experiencing-a-death-or-loss/.

Who do you live at home with now, and how do you all get along? You have the right to live somewhere you feel safe and happy, and we hope that is the case for you. Would your dad leaving be something you feel comfortable talking about with any other person in your family? You have the right to know and get an understanding of what has happened, if that is appropriate, and perhaps they could help you understand why your dad left and give you some extra support. 

It is okay to feel lots of different emotions when something like this has happened too, you could be feeling confused, angry, sad, shocked, they are all valid feelings. This sounds like it could be on your mind a lot, so we would say that it is important you look after yourself and make time for the things you enjoy doing. Whether that is meeting a friend, going for a walk, gaming, drawing or watching tv, whatever it is! 

If you would ever like to talk to someone about what is going on for you and your family, please know we are here 24/7 at Childline, and you can talk about absolutely anything that you want to. You can contact us on our LiveChat or our phone line (1800 66 66 66), and we would be happy to listen to whatever you would like to say. You do not have to go through this journey on your own. 

Take care of yourself. We hope you get in contact with us soon. 

Alex