Well, the papers have been signed, the details worked out and all the t's crossed and i's dotted. It has been over a year since we separated and we finally have a separation agreement. Now all there is left to do is wait for the final divorce to be granted and work out how we move on and try to parent our kids. We are so very different in our approaches that I don't see this being an easy thing.
How do you co-parent separately with someone you couldn't co-parent together with? Good question, right? We could do what we each please, fight like cats and dogs and blame each other when something goes wrong, or we could learn to communicate with each other, collaborate on details and work together. I don't think either of those will work for us. There has to be some middle ground somewhere that we can reach. There are going to be fights, there are going to be misunderstandings; that happens in the best of relationships and yes, this is still a relationship. It is just an evolving relationship. We are no longer best friends, in fact I don't think either of us would call the other friend at this moment in time. The fact remains, though, that we need to find a way to work together. We each need to learn to give to the other and think of the kids first.
So we move forward and through trial and error we will find the path of least resistance. We will do what is best for our kids, even if that means compromising or actually giving in to one another on occasion. Our only moments of togetherness will be discussing the children, and it is our children that will bind us together forever. All other bonds are broken, we are now each free to go our separate ways...and that is exactly what I intend to do.
