When I said that we disagreed about nearly everything, I was speaking purely in the context of this blog–Mike is a fan of online dating, for instance, whereas I think it is virtually impossible that anything positive could ever come out of it. Mike believes in fidelity from the first interaction, whereas I think that puts an artificial spin on a relationship that should be developing naturally.

We actually agree about nearly everything that counts–honesty and how other people should be treated and the importance of the quality of our work and the incontrovertible fact that Kids Come First. We’re even in almost complete agreement about what it takes to make a relationship works. But we’re a world apart on what it takes to put one together.

But admittingly disagreeing about nearly everything? Any relationship like that, sounds like a lot of unnecessary extra work to me. And possibly a power play that drains a lot of the energy, love and fun they could both be having, by setting as healthier examples for their kids.

Parents in general are DIRECTLY telegraphing their kids how a relationship works. And kids likely react and try to emulate what they grew up with, because they see it as normal.

I’ve never had kids. I’ve been in Relationships where I was the Step Father, which thankfully isn’t the same thing.

I’ve watched many relationships fall apart, due in part, to totally differently Parenting styles. Or Partnering styles.

And don’t you hate it when the child gets pregnant, goes to jail, or cuts themself ? Yep, I’ve seen all of that.

There’s no absolutes here. Sometimes the best Parents in the world can’t prevent that from happenning.