Gracey, Honestly, it's so hard for me to believe that a parent would think OP was more important than being there to see their children's milestones. If I was the spouse who was having feelings of being unhappy I would try to so hard to get it right. The Bridges Of Madison County comes to mind, she had a intense romance, but in the end realized that her family was too important to her. My children are young adults. I don't see how their father can look them in the eye. He has never admitted the affair to them, but he knows they know. My youngest D has got the mindset now that her father owes her for what he has put her through. I would be lying if I said that doesn't bring me some personal satisfaction on some level, but also I realize that she deserves to have her dad in her life. He does put out some effort, but right now all she sees him for is to get money. Sad, that's how she feels right now. She was going to go see him last Sat. night and he said he was "just riding around and wouldn't be back until late." She was so hurt, she immediately said he is lying. Who knows if he was telling the truth, but she just doesn't have much faith in him now. So you are right about it being a blessing of your children being babies, but they definitely need a strong male figure in their lives. Maybe he will step up one day and be that person.
Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are. -- Bernice Johnson Reagon
