Hello.

My name is Charles Deus.

I don't know how to start but to start with my story.

I honestly don't like being here.

I really don't want public attention.

I want a quiet life.

For my children, I can't be silenced ANYMORE.

I can’t continue to be forced to stay silent.

I am just a dad.

A dad who loves his children dearly.

A dad who misses his children dearly.

I am a survivor of domestic violence.

I am a victim of domestic violence.

I know that's going to make many who read that line UNCOMFORTABLE.

It's ok.

It made ME uncomfortable TOO.

Most men who are abused can't speak this truth.

I'm going to say it one more time.

So you can sit with it for a moment.

Please.

I am a victim of domestic violence.

It's uncomfortable.

It's difficult.

Men can't be abused.

Right?

That's why I ignored the suggestion.

Denial can be dangerous.

Denial can hurt us.

Denial will hurt our children.

I'm not in denial anymore.

I now know why I've been so terrified for my children.

To be with my abuser.

Truly.

I don't want my children hurt like this.

I digress.

There is a fundamental lack of support systems for dads.

Practically ZERO.

There are domestic violence support systems for women and for mothers.

There are domestic violence support systems for children.

That's good! We need them! They need them.

Are there domestic violence support systems for dads?

Just dads?

Just dads and their children?

Do domestic violence services offer housing for battered men?

Just pause and think about that.

Seriously.

Let's face it, there's a lot of bad men out there too.

There's also many atrociously bad dads.

I have to add this here. The bad dads hurt us all.

If you know a friend is a bad dad.

Tell him.

Please.

His children deserve better.

Society deserves better.

Don't get me wrong.

This is self-serving too.

I've lost everything to this battle.

I stay in it because I KNOW my children NEED their dada.

Need me.

I just can't wage this war alone anymore.

And, I am alone.

My abuser has taken everything.

My abuser took my old friends, first.

For me to be with her.

My abuser took away my new friends, second.

Because I had been with her.

No one sees.

No one sees what it's doing to my children.

Why do the courts ignore the truths they see everyday?

They do nothing.

Why?

Kids should be with mom.

Says who?

Are we better off with all of these broken homes our children live in?

Are we any better off when children have their father taken away because their mother - overnight - hates the father?

How is this ok?

I know my children need me.

I know they desperately want to see me.

My son asks for video calls.

My abuser tells him 'no.'

This is wrong.

I don't want my children traumatized.

I know trauma.

I know childhood trauma.

Trust me.

I do.

I know what it's like to be a child, terrified of your primary care giver...

...and just wishing someone, anyone, would, could, please, just...

see you,

hear you,

rescue you,

save you.

I wished for that everyday as a kid.

I clearly remember making those wishes at age 4, staring out the window into the cul-de-sac, just wishing.

Please, someone help me.

I don't want this for my children. Do you want it for yours?

So here we are.

Let's build something - together - for our children.

The right way and for all of us.

For our children.

My goal here is to start an actual grassroots fathers' rights dedicated organization.

An actual non-profit that is really about helping dads.

For real!

A coalition of dads.

A collective bargaining of dads.

A lobbyist - for dads and dads' issues.

A place where we can be heard, and our children seen, really seen.

We need this.

Dads need this.

Kids need this.

Moms need this too.

I know I'm not the only dad going through this.

There are literally thousands of us, maybe more, that face these same challenges, every single day.

Do you want to spend time with your kids today?

Can you?

Do you have to ask for permission?!

Will you be denied just because you asked?!

Will your children be punished if you ask?

Is this ok?

For you?

For your children?

This hurts our children!

This hurts society.

This hurts America.

This hurts the WORLD.

There are supposed father's rights organizations out there already. Right?

You probably already know that most - if not all - are scams.

There are crooked ones, designed to prey upon dads - not help dads.

The long-term goal of this organization will be to help dads and their kids.

To offer services to dads, and their kids, in need.

Legal Services.

Counseling Services.

Help.

For dads.

For their kids.

I just want to make sure that there's support for other dads who suddenly find themselves in a situation like mine, like yours.

It's terrifying when our ability to be fathers is suddenly threatened.

I was threatened by a rich family who cared nothing about the impact on my children.

They just wanted to punish me because of my abuser's lies.

As men, as fathers, we are driven by our primal instincts when we become dads.

A primal instinct we never knew, but becomes a crucial part of us.

Not just to protect.

But to care for.

To raise.

To be present.

We want to be in the lives of those who came into the world with our help.

We want to help them every step of the way.

We signed up to be dads, not long distance ATM machines.

I'm going to be honest because the only way this movement will work long-term is if everyone is honest.

Everyone! Dads, Moms, Therapists, Lawyers, Judges - just everyone.

I have severe PTSD symptoms from my abuse.

This morning I have just enough clarity of thought to get this out.

Tomorrow, I don't know.

I point this out so anyone who reaches out to me on here knows that I can't always interact with people everyday - right now.

Some days (most days right now) I can't leave a dark room.

So, there may be delays in my ability to respond right away.

As we continue to build this, I hope to get others actively involved so my personal struggles don't impede this project.

This goal.

I'm going to need help.

I can't do this alone.

I've never undertaken anything of this magnitude before.

For my children, I have to.

For your children, I have to.

For children.

I have to.

I'll be looking for input from other dads.

Dads that want to get involved.

Dads that just need another dad to vent to.

Let's build this together for real dads and just simply for real.

Let's figure it out.

Funding is going to have to be grassroots.

That way we know, for real, this is for dads and their kids.

Not big donors.

Strictly non-profit.

It all goes into the organization.

It stays in the organization.

I'll die on that cross and for this.

That's how important this is.

Funding is going to have to come from us.

We definitely can't depend on any aid organization.

Not now.

If organizations that help women are being defunded, men and dads don't stand a chance.

So, let's do something different.

Let's build something.

Something new, better, for you, for dads, for kids, and even for moms.

Our kids need both parents - maybe this can stop the wars.

I'm just going to start with a page, an email, and a link.

Reach out.

Let's see what we can build.

Together