It’s one of the huge benefits of an actual divorce or separation... no longer being yanked around like a top on string, expecting someone to be there when they’re not, constantly/randomly being let down and having to scramble to cover the gaps... it is a 1,000 times easier to actually set up your life as a single parent, than to be dealing with someone who is cutting and running whenever the mood suits them. Because as a single parent? You have all of your bases covered, backups & resources in place. The schedule is also -usually- at least roughly nailed down. <<< That is always but always a contentious pain in the ass for everyone, but it’s better than the alternative, which is what you're living right now >>> You aren’t counting on someone who isn’t there -or worse- leaves you reeling in addition to not being there. It’s not a string of betrayals that cuts deeper and deeper into any chance of reconciling.
I’ve known a few couples who manage on the “I’ll just try to be here as little as possible” paradigm and make it work... because at least the expectations are lowered, but I couldn’t do it. (I’m not talking about active duty military, commercial fisherman, oil rigs, and a zillion other jobs where someone is gone on a regular basis, rather than supposed to be there and just not showing up or bailing left right and center). It was too exhausting, always waiting on pins and needles to try and “make the best of it” (read cancelling existing plans, etc.) to try and accomodate someone who was half-assedly trying to get back in my good graces one minute, and then blaming me & ruining things / picking fights the next. But my ex is a GradeA Asshole. He wasn’t coming round to spend time with the kids, or be a family, he was mostly coming round to keep me as off balance as possible. Not that I learned that until later -mutual friends- that he’d deliberately show up to scuttle plans TheKiddo and I had to punish us and keep me from having a reliable schedule. Bullshit emotional games some people play piss me the hell off. He reeeeeeally didn’t want to get divorced, so he ping ponged back and forth between being lovely (you want me back!) and being hellish (It’s better when I’m back). :rolleyes:
Point being the chaos and the tumult? Whether it’s intentional (like win my ex) or an accidental byproduct? It keeps you off balance, and on your back foot. Whether you stay together, separate, or divorce? Don’t let ANYONE put you on your back foot. If he wants to blow in and out of your life like the March wind? IME/IMO make him do it to YOUR schedule. IE have a schedule that doesn’t include him / if he wants to be a part of your lives he can adjust to that. Because it’s 1000x harder being a single parent INSIDE of a marriage where someone is “supposed” to be there... and <crickets> has left you, again. And again. And again. . All the drawbacks, none of the benefits.