I tried, I changed, but still am getting divorced!

[ClingingToHope]

I already took mine and when it was over I thought STBXW and I were going to take different messages out of it.

In my class, the statistics showed that 100 percent of kids are damaged in a divorce. If co-parenting goes well then about 33 percent don't develop serious issues.

That's it. A 1-in-3 chance you won't really screw up your kids but none go through unscathed. That's the message I took.

I'm guessing STBXW will grab that 1-in-3 chance as a lifeline and push for more and more conversation between us. The class said the co-parents should talk twice a week.

That does make sense and I hope some day to be able to do that. But right now I'd rather not talk to her twice a month.

I'm guessing STBXW will quote the "we should be talking twice a week" part of the class when I'm not answering my phone when she calls during work.

Overall, it was very, very, very depressing.

I'm seeing the issues develop in D11. She spent last week with her best friend instead of camp. It was a great week. But the parents are still together so they have the advantages of an intact family -- family vacations, the latest tech gadgets, no problems signing up and getting to musical lessons.

D11 said her friend has everything she wants.

Some day, years down the road, STBXW is going to have some serious questions to answer from D11.