What an appalling father figure for your kids. There is no way for this type of behavior to NOT have an effect on your kids.
When we were still having an amicable divorce, my 2bx said something to me like "Of course, you did all the work with the kids but I would like to think that I helped a little." Fact is, my kids have always come to me for pretty much everything. I'm way to wimpy to be a "rock" type parent for them but they do take me for granted in the way I think kids should. I spoke with my S18 about the postcard a bit today. He just said something like "Well, Dad's always had a talent for self-deprecation." They're actually at sort of good ages to deal with this type of thing being highly self-involved teenagers. I would say they both basically ignored his plea for sympathy with an adolescent attitude of "Whatever."
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" - Mary Oliver
