Still Showing Up

Watching a show a little later. A guy who's just found out he's a dad, building a relationship with his kid, when the mom decides she's moving across the country. With the kid. Then told him she's doing what she wants and basically, suck it.

Even in the courts, this is evident. The bias is undeniable. I can testify first hand.

I don't want to dig up ancient history, but I'll say this: never give up. I kept fighting for my kids and had every intention of continuing to fight for them. But something I wish I'd known years ago, we were both hurting. Spiteful. Distrustful of each other.

Intentionally doing things just to piss the other one off, or cost the other money. We both had ourselves convinced we knew better, that we could provide better. Maybe we each were right. But as right as we both may have been, we couldn't have been more wrong.

Yes, we both had their best interest at heart. But we were distracted fighting each other. Instead of putting aside our differences and talking. We were both there for our kids 150%, no questions asked. But now things are a lot easier. We speak almost daily about the kids. We've learned to trust each other. But above all, we learned how to communicate.

Was it easy? Was it fun?

Hell to the no.

But it was worth it. Now my kids and I have access to each other like we all live together. I talk with them constantly. Which is all we both wanted.

When my ex and I were together, we always said we wanted a relationship like my parents if we ever split. Well, we actually did better.

Some days I can't stand her. And I know she feels the same some days. But when it comes to the kids, we're finally on the same page. Communicating. Still showing up.