Ok, let's stop talking about money...and child support...and stuff!

One thing I completely adored about my ex...he was devoted to his son. But not in a creepy, destructive way - quite the opposite. He was/is an incredible dad. I would tease him that he would have to find friends when his son became a teen. But somehow he has managed, even with a popular son that now has a girlfriend, he still manages to spend quality time with his son (and his friends! which is even more of an accomplishment, I think - but I digress.)

With his ex and him, no one paid alimony or child support (maybe there is something about having nothing at the time of divorce??) and they shared 50/50 custody.

But what I loved about my ex was that he loved that 50% he got. So much so, that when he knew his ex was hiring a sitter during her 50% that he just called and said, "I know you have been getting a sitter. But why do that? Call me - I would love to have more time with my son." And she being a good mom, did. She called him and my ex had his son for more than 50% of the time. Of course, now that he is a teen and his girlfriend lives by school and his mom's, his son wants to spend more time at his mom's. But still, my ex takes his son and his friends (and girlfriend) for runs and hikes...sometimes backpacking trips and somehow they still have that kept that bond. My ex is a friend but not a friend, always a parent - you know, that balance that not a lot of people can pull off, he could though and and still does.

But here is the thing, I think a lot of people are like my ex. I think that is what being a great parent is all about. And from where I am sitting, from what I read in here - there seems to be an awful lot of good parents out there...that get it.

I had that once, I want that again and I for one, don't think it is unreasonable or impossible to have that again - quite the opposite - I expect it.