Happy Baby-Mama’s Day!

I’ve hated my ex-wife many times. I’d still do anything for her. I’ve cussed her name and been angry at seeing her caller ID on my phone. I still answer though… when it’s her. I’ve fought with her in person, over the phone, across a courtroom, and even in my head when she was nowhere around. I still want the best for her, I still support her, I still send her money, and I still care to repair that relationship every time it is strained.

You see, my ex-wife raised my kids. My ex-wife brought two babies into this world who have my last name. My ex-wife nursed and brushed hair and shuttled kids to school and volunteered at cheer carwashes and carried guitar equipment to School of Rock shows. My ex-wife did it all. She was counselor, referee, cook, maid, entertainer, stylist, and best friend. She is who made my kids into who they are today. And she is probably, whether my two college students want to admit it or not, the most important person in their lives.

It’s the best friend role that I’d like to talk about. I’m a Texas raised, Air Force served, Southern white guy who loves to skateboard and build things. I cuss. I speed. I get in the face of people much taller than me and say things that a lot of people don’t care to hear. Opinionated is an understatement. But for my daughters, all of that goes out the window. I’ve long since abandoned my narrow world views and aggressiveness and could easily accept them being any kind of person I am not. And my ex-wife helped with that growth… way back sixteen years ago when we were married.

We’ve both talked at length that we would accept anyone our kids love. And we would cherish anyone who loves our kids as much as we do. We would also support any interests either kid has. And we would go to great lengths to back them whether they become vegans or activists or school bus drivers or college dropouts or lawyers or… this one’s hard… I can’t even type it… REPUBLICANS!

Like most parents, I would do anything for my children. And with similar dedication, my ex-wife has done almost everything for my children. So in that logic, and in accepting anyone my kids love, and loving everyone who loves my kids dearly, and respecting my daughters enough to show love to whomever they choose to hold closely in their lives, I have chosen to keep showing love for my ex-wife.

There’s one person in this world who loves my kids as much as me. There’s one person in this world who wants the best for my children as much as I do. And there’s one person in this world who has as much, but probably more, influence on the kind of people my daughters become. And there’s one person in this world whose absence or failure or hardships would crush my daughters more than I could bear to see. So I don’t want any of that to happen. I want the person my kids care the most about to always do well, to always know I’m here to help, and to always know that when I say I would do anything for my kids, that includes loving and respecting their mother.

So my baby-mama gets my respect as an extension of the respect and admiration I have for my daughters. My baby-mama gets my full support because my young adults need a supported mom. My baby-mama gets my unbridled commitment to every single thing she wants to do to better herself or her life because all of those improvements, every single one, benefit the young ladies who look to her for guidance… by default.

Happy Mother’s Day, Baby-Mama! I’d divorce you all over again but I wouldn’t choose anyone else to be my children’s mother. You’ve done a great job… as you can see from the near perfect results. Enjoy! And thank you. I’m afraid I can’t ever thank you enough for all the love you’ve given my kids. I am forever grateful!