I'm pulling this in from Steve's blog thread:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Radactrice  That's the absolute key...you've structured your new life around your kids and you've made a choice. However, it is easier for the non-custodial parent to have the "out of sight, out of mind" attitude. To be honest, it's harder to be a vital, present, active divorced parent than it is to be one in a marriage. Certainly not impossible and my ex and I did co-parent, but we made the choice. The days the kids were with me were non-negiotiable and vice versus. The kids came first. Period. |
IMO, parenting has become a lot easier now that they aren't around everyday. When they were around everyday, I took them and my time with them for granted. Now that I don't see them everyday, I value the time we have together more and it's better. And I feel like I've improved as a father because of the divorce.
It's 6 of one, half a dozen of the other. One the one hand, not seeing them everyday creates the potential for you to really appreciate the time you DO have with them. On the other, it's hard on you both emotionally to keep drifting in and out of their lives.
One the one hand, in a marriage, you get to see them everyday and you don't have that emotional turmoil, but you also take your time with them for granted and the quality of your time may be degraded because of that.