Shout out to all who have lost their spouse (particularly their wife) and yet who have the task of raising small kids. How d’ya do it?

Lost my late wife last year. Had inherited teenagers and an elementary school boy, so now it’s just me and them. Or sometimes me against them. Or as the teenagers head off to college it’s just me and him.

Half bachelor pad here. Never realized it much she did to keep the house straight. To keep the calendar, set the doctor appointments and teeth cleanings and the summer camp schedule. And don’t go anywhere near the challenge of setting and staging the Birthday Party!

So how does it get done? And how to find the energy and focus and competence to do all this stuff?

Single dad (28) of two kiddos 2 and 3. My folks keep telling me to go out and date, and honestly I really don’t want to. I don’t really even have time for someone else at this point. Their mom took them overnight last weekend for the first time in five months. I tried telling this to them and it’s almost like talking to a brick wall. Is there anything I should/could say to get through to them or should I just dance around the topic?

Thanks! :)

I’m a single mother of two young children in Cook County, Illinois, seeking recommendations for free or affordable legal assistance with a parenting-time and child-support dispute.
My former husband and I have a history of domestic violence. In October 2024, an incident involving my son resulted in a criminal case. According to a letter I received from the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, my ex-husband pleaded guilty to battery causing bodily harm in June 2026 and was sentenced to 24 months of probation with additional conditions. The protective order associated with that case is no longer active.
My ex is now seeking additional parenting time and a reduction in child support. He has an attorney, but I cannot afford the kind of private legal representation he has. The children have had little to no direct contact with him for over a year, and they have expressed reluctance to see him.
Tonight, he requested a police wellness check at my home. Officers came to my door and questioned me about the children’s well-being. I explained the history of the criminal case and showed them my daughter’s phone call log to demonstrate the lack of recent calls. I was advised to return to court. This has left me worried about how the incident will affect the upcoming family-court proceedings.
I’m looking for recommendations for:
Cook County legal-aid organizations or pro bono family-law attorneys who handle domestic violence and parenting-time cases.
Attorneys who can help me prepare for an upcoming hearing and respond to a request for increased parenting time.
Legal clinics that can review existing court orders and advise whether additional protective measures may be appropriate.
I am willing to complete an application and provide the relevant documentation. I would especially appreciate recommendations from anyone who has successfully obtained legal assistance for a similar family-law matter in Cook County.
Thank you for any resources or guidance you can share.