Annabel, Sophie and Mark Tucker, and his second wife Alison. Photograph supplied.
My self esteem took a big blow and until I could feel good about myself, it was very difficult to play a proper parenting role.
Mark Tucker's marriage ended suddenly – it was full and final – after reading a text on his wife's phone that said 'Goodnight My Love'.
He was not the 'my love' in question.
Mark Tucker is a British management consultant who has lived and worked in Australia for many years, and at the time (seven years ago) his wife left him for another man, their daughters were 14 and 12.
The road ahead completely uncharted territory, and as he coped with the emotional turmoil and caring for his girls, he looked for self-help books to ease the way forward.
Not finding anything suitable, in time he sat down to write a book about his own experience and dealing with his emotions, bitterness, raising teenage girls in the family home... and then starting a new relationship.
The book, Single Father Better Dad is the result.
Each chapter begins with a song title, which economically sums up the different stages of his life post the break-up.
His memoir starts with the Led Zeppelin song, 'Dazed and Confused'.
He talks to Nine to Noon’s Kathryn Ryan about picking up the pieces and embarking on a new fatherhood journey as a divorced dad.
