A reader, Trebor, shares his family’s story with us, exemplifying the idea that co-parenting is not a one-size-fits-all proposition:
Well, how is this for co-parenting: My ex-wife and I live in the same house. It certainly didn’t happen overnight, but after years of being in different residences, and my 2nd wife and I split up, I asked my 1st wife to move in to help with expenses. We have 2 teenagers, and they are happy to share the house with both of us. Their mom has the basement with a separate entrance, and I have the upstairs. I was paying child support, and she was renting a apartment, so this arrangement actually saves both of us money because she no longer pays rent, and I no longer pay child support. We have a locked door between us, but the kids can go back and forth as they desire.
There have been times when it has been nice for her. She has battled cancer in the last 2 years, and has aspirated a few times, and was able to contact me upstairs for help. She actually jumped out of bed a month ago after a hard time breathing and broke her foot . I took her to the hospital, and was glad to do so. Her cancer was removed and lymph nodes also removed and we thank God that she got the medical attention she needed.
We have had Thanksgiving dinners together, and my ex and my 3rd wife are great friends. (I now have a awesome wife, who is also my best friend.) Yes, it is a strange situation, but if it works for us, and the kids, then that is all that really matters. My boys are happy, both of us have a place to live, my new wife is fine with the situation. I think that my ex does not want to start a relationship until the kids are on their own, and I applaud her for doing so. The kids and church are her life, and she is a good woman. We were childhood sweethearts, and yes, it is bad that we didn’t stay together, but we can not let the past keep us from enjoying the future.
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