[FlamesAddiction]

My parents split up when I was 6 months old so I had no memory of them ever being together or the messiness of the divorce, but I heard from others that it was pretty bad. My mother had full custody and my father had weekend visitation rights and always showed up when able to. He also always paid his child support payments on time which made things easy for everyone, although the payments were small ($75 per month per child so $150 in total in 1980s money). If we needed extra money for something, my dad would give a little more now and then. Also, neither of them re-married. They dated, but but never like a live-in situation so there was never a competition with ex's or battles between step parents and kids. My mother had a longer term partner when I was a kid, but he was a really good guy and easy going. My dad just dated 20 year olds.

Because I was so young when it happened, it was probably a lot easier on me than a lot of kids, plus the fact that they were more or less civil to each other. They would bad mouth each other behind each other's backs sometimes, but I learned pretty quick to tune it out. The only thing that sucked is when my father had to relocate for work and I only got to see him once in a while for a few years, but he always sent gifts and called. When my mother passed away, I could have lived with him permanently but chose not to. Not because of a bad relationship or anything, but my sister who was legally an adult offered to take me which just seemed like a lot more fun.