Together for a purpose!

I am very proud to say that our daughter had a "performance" for her stretch and grow camp and we SAT TOGETHER. I know of many parents that are raising their kids separately and they can't manage to sit together at functions for their child. I am very grateful that we are able to sit with one another with nothing but smiles and pride beaming for our sweet little girl. We are attending her Vacation Bible School closing night together this evening and I am very happy to announce that not only will he and I sit together but so will my significant other (of 2 years). We have a little boy together and he will be there too to cheer on his BIG SISTER! He is only 8 months old but she will be so happy to see us all sitting there TOGETHER for HER!

I am happy to say that over the past two years we have been able to work through our issues and have a healthy relationship.  We keep it simple.  We only discuss our daughter and we are able to exchange pleasant words while we are transitioning our daughter from one house to the other.  There are times that we do not say much....actually most times are like that.  We talk to our daughter and we have no tense moments.  Next week she will be going to be the beach with her dad and grandmother.  We will FaceTime so that she doesn't feel disconnected.  We did the same for her with her dad when we took her to the beach last week.  I am actually going to keep her dog (that she has at her dad's house) for a day until the dog sitter that they have is able to get back in town.  I feel that it is important for Lily to see that Mommy is helping Daddy out.  I was actually thrilled that he asked me to keep her because it means that we have mended our bridges.  I am the one who found the dog for him when he was looking.  Also, I miss the dog because she was a huge part of my life at one point in time.  Some people may not understand why it is important to me to keep the dog...they may feel like I am doing it to stay connected to my daughters father.  Partially, it may be...but not for romantic purposes.  I want him to feel like he can still count on me.  We have a child together.  Isn't that what COOPERATIVE PARENTING is all about? Working with one another, supporting one another, and helping out one another....

When our daughter drives away to go to the beach she will remember that her Mommy has her dog.  She will ask me about it on the phone and that alone makes me feel like I did something right.  

Papers

After a year and four months of trying to agree on a custody agreement we have finally agreed.  It was an emotional journey at first but now we are on good terms with one another.  I feel that as the days pass we are closer to a new found friendship.  He and I were great friends in the first place and I hope that we can find that again...for Lily.  She is a product of a relationship that was full of laughs and love at one point and I hope that our daughter will see that in us again, one day.  I believe that her father and I will always love one another to some degree because we have our beautiful daughter together.  I am happy that the papers are signed and that we can continue to provide a happy, healthy, loving, and nurturing environment for our daughter!