I'm a single dad. This part of co-parenting just breaks my heart

"Now I cherish every scream, every dirty handprint, and every spill," the man says in a moving video that anyone doing shared care will relate to.

Co-parenting is not an easy task, especially when it comes to shared care. You need the break, but you also miss your child terribly.

One dad, who knows this feeling all too well, has posted a video that encapsulates the sense of loneliness after dropping your little one off.

And it's hit anyone who can relate, right in the feels.

Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this. 

Angel and Penelope. Image: @ainejole

RELATED: Adorable trend to help toddlers give up their dummies

"The hardest part is coming home to silence"

Posting to his TikTok account called Angel & Penny, @ainjole shared the heartwarming video with the caption:

"I think the hardest part of co-parenting (for me) is dropping my daughter off with her mum and coming home to silence.

"Of course when she's rowdy and loud, I wish for peace and quiet, as does every parent when they're overwhelmed. But then I hate it when I have it."

The text-on-screen reads: 'POV: You co-parent and just dropped off your kid with her mum.'

In the footage we see Angel coming home alone after dropping his toddler Penelope off.

That tear-jerking song from Up plays in the background while he films himself picking up toys around his apartment and cleaning up.

He dusts the benches, makes the bed, sweeps and re-organises all her toys. However, he does keep a few stuffed animals on display for reminders.

Finally, he lies on his bed and switches off the light.

The dad later adds in the comments: "Now I cherish every scream, every dirty handprint, and every spill."

He keeps some toys out as reminders. Image: @ainejole

RELATED: I’ve trained my 4yo to clean for me at home

"Tired. Sad. Relieved. It's a weird feeling."

The clip now has over three million views and 12k comments, with many fellow co-parents taking to the comments to share their own experiences.

"I've been doing it for 10 years now and it doesn't get any easier, but just know two happy homes are better than one toxic home! Proud of you," one mum said.

Angel replied: "Wow, I thought one day it would be. But yeah, you’re definitely right and that’s why it doesn’t hurt as much. Because now she sees us both happy."

Another added: "Worst feeling is when you get home from dropping your kid off and you open your phone and the first thing is the YouTube video they were watching."

A third wrote: "Been doing this for a little over a year and each time I drop my kids off (three of them) and get home later on in the night to an empty house I cry."

This viewer described the experience as: "Tired. Sad. Relieved. It's a weird feeling."

"I [clean] every Monday as I don't have the heart to clean Sunday night after I drop them off. The mess reminds me of them," another single dad shared.

And finally, this parent wrote: "I miss my daughter every day till I have her again. I always snuggle with her favourite teddy bear till she comes back."

Angel added this comment: "It’s painful to see them go but even more special when they come back."

Originally published as I'm a single dad. This part of co-parenting just breaks my heart