Together yet apart, I'm unsure—female, 27, male, 56.

I'm a 27-year-old woman struggling with my relationship with my partner and the father of my child, who is 53. It feels like we’re constantly out of sync. Our circumstances are complicated—we don’t live together, and he seems to hold onto traditional views where men provide financially while women manage childcare. However, I don’t think he understands the extent of what I handle on my own. Our daughter is just 4.5 months old, and he has never cared for her alone, hasn’t woken up with her overnight, and has not stepped up as an engaged parent. He visits for a few hours each day and offers financial support, but I’ve been her primary physical and emotional caregiver since she was born. I made the decision to end our relationship on Christmas Eve because I couldn’t wait any longer for someone who wasn’t fully present. It was easier to come to terms with being a single parent than to hold onto false hopes. Yet, we never truly severed ties—we still love each other, and I wanted to maintain a positive relationship for our daughter’s sake. I thought things were improving. Today, on Valentine’s Day, he surprised me with roses and we planned to go grocery shopping and spend some family time together. However, I haven’t heard from him since 2:20 PM, and now it’s 5:30 PM. This pattern keeps repeating, and I’m so exhausted from continually giving him the benefit of the doubt. I don’t think I can keep going like this. I wanted us to stay together for our daughter, but it’s becoming too overwhelming for me. I can’t depend on him, and I feel like I’m shouldering everything alone. I’m at a loss for what to do next.