DEAR ABBY: I am the divorced father of a 7-year-old daughter. I'll call her Gloria. I have custody of Gloria every Thursday and every other weekend, but it's not often enough. However, "Lois," her mother, will not agree to give us more time together. Lois, by the way, has newborn twins. I think she's spending so much time with them that Gloria is getting too little of her mother's attention.
Abby, my daughter cries constantly and begs to spend more time with me. We have a great relationship and love each other very much. It breaks my heart to drop her off at her mother's home, and Gloria never wants to leave me. I remarried right after the divorce and my second wife is due to deliver our first child in a few weeks. I think the new baby about to join our family may have upset Gloria. Perhaps that's the reason for her tears. I worry that my beautiful daughter will become a problem child in need of therapy.
A few days ago, before I dropped Gloria off at school, I mentioned that I had a "tummyache." She worried about me all day, terrified that I would die. When Lois picked her up after school, the teacher told her that Gloria was crying because of me, so Lois called and screamed at me for upsetting Gloria. I spoke to my daughter on the phone and calmed her a little bit, but she was still worried.
I suggested again to Lois that Gloria be allowed to spend more time in my home, but Lois screamed, "It's too disruptive!" She's extremely stubborn when it comes to Gloria and will not listen to a word I say.
Abby, I'd give my life to save Gloria's, and now I ask myself why I didn't remain in my marriage, despite my unhappiness, so that I could be a full-time father to my precious daughter. But I didn't, so now what do I do? -- DESPERATE DAD
DEAR DESPERATE DAD: Now you go back to court and make a formal request for more time with your daughter. In the light of what you told me, I hope the judge will be sympathetic.