| I feel bad for this guy, unfortunately he is just at the beginning of the world of hurt and pain he most likely is goin to experience. Having gone through an ugly family breakup, I can attest to how painful and stressful it is for everyone. Especially once the courts get involved. From my experience the courts are very unsympathetic to any arguments outside the general consensus, almost to the point of being obtuse or jaded. I know people think that children are better off having both parents involved in their lives but I beg to differ when selfish vendictictive parents are involved. Childhood is important but it is not a lifetime, in some ways it is better to check ones ego and just step back and wait. Support the child as ordered by the courts and then when the child is an adult they can decide whether or not to have a relationship with the estranged parent. If they choose not to.. Accept that and live your best life, after all You don't own the child. (eventhough your ex may believe they do!) This can be much easier on the child than witnessing constant bickering, accusations and pettiness between the parents. Possibly resulting in self harm or violence. Just my point of view, might be wrong but nevertheless how I see it. |
What you said after this is not any more sympathetic.
> Childhood is important but it is not a lifetime, in some ways it is better to check ones ego and just step back and wait.
This is an astonishing display of lack of empathy for the unfairly estranged parent. Not having your child in your life is one of the worst forms of torture a person should not be forced to endure.
> Support the child as ordered by the courts
The courts are, as you said, obtuse and jaded. Not to mention very often biased.
> Accept that and live your best life
You can't, when you're a good parent, you can't "live your best life" if your child was torn away from you.
> after all You don't own the child
I'm trying to be charitable here, because the HN guidelines encourage steelmanning, but comparing "wanting to have your child in your life" with "thinking you own your child" is appalling, to put it mildly. I hope this is just very, very, unfortunate phrasing, because I could find no other way to read it.
> This can be much easier on the child than witnessing constant bickering, accusations and pettiness between the parents.
Being separated from a parent can have even more dire consequences on the child. And there actually are studies on that.
> might be wrong
You argued in favor of the extremely unfair status quo of the courts and tried to suggest it could be better for the child.