There are people who find it weird that I have maintained a positive relationship with my ex-wife. I think that there is nothing weird about this. The world is made a better place when people maintain positive relationships with their exes than if they become each other's enemies.
I've seen the hatred that took place between my father and my mother when she left him, and my response is: I do not want to live in a world such as this. I want to live in a world where people get along. And the biggest part of it is maintaining positive relationships with people you have loved.
My ex-wife has taken the similar stance, and the result has been that my daughter has two loving parents. She did not try to influence my daughter against me or anything stupid like that; she has honored the love that I have for my daughter and allows me to see her whenever I want to. She has decency and compassion; and it takes both of the above to make relationships work.
For the people who want exes to be enemies, I have this to say: You are a bunch of predators. These people get off on hatred and know how to use it to their advantage. I have better values than that. I am happy to have a friendly relationship with my ex-wife. And this is not only good for her; it is also good for my daughter.
There are many situations in which someone has to take the lead and show what is right. It is right that my daughter should get to benefit from the attention of both her parents. I do not persecute my ex-wife for leaving me, nor do I try to deny my daughter the right to a meaningful relationship with her mother. I see her as needing the attention of both her parents; and my ex-wife understands the same thing as well.
However the relationship between her parents go, the child has the right to a good relationship with both her parents. A good man – or a good woman – would not be poisoning the child against having this relationship. The men – or the women – who do that are selfish scum, unless of course the child is in real danger, such as in the danger of pedophilia or brutality.
Both men and women are capable of both rightful and wrongful behavior. It is important to see the potentials for both and doing what it takes to support the rightful behavior and attack the wrong behavior. Both I and my ex-wife have been doing what it takes to take care of my daughter. And that is not only good for my daughter. It is also good for relationships that may exist.