My ex and I share custody of our daughter, and since he usually handles drop-offs and pick-ups, I’d never been inside his new place. As long as our daughter seemed happy, I didn’t question it. That changed last week.
I went over to drop off a school project she’d forgotten and walked past her bedroom — or what was supposed to be her bedroom. The door was open, and the room was filled with someone else’s belongings. Boxes, clothes, and random items were stacked everywhere. It clearly wasn’t her space anymore.
When I confronted my ex, he admitted he had rented out her room for extra money. He said she was “fine” sleeping on the couch, as if that was acceptable.
I was stunned. This wasn’t just about where she slept — it was about her sense of security, stability, and belonging. A child deserves her own space, not a couch she has to give up whenever it’s inconvenient.
What hurt most was how casual he was about it, like her comfort didn’t matter at all. I left angry and heartbroken.
For now, my daughter is staying with me full-time until he can prove she has a proper room again. She’s calmer, happier, and finally feels settled.
I don’t regret drawing this line. A child deserves more than whatever space is left over after rent checks clear. Am I wrong for refusing to send her back until she has a real room of her own?
