I have two houses

Today, while taking public transportation with my seven year old daughter she noticed that a fellow rider, another little girl was wearing glasses similar to hers. She remarked to the little girl "We have the same glasses".

The young child was amazed that someone else in the world had the exact same glasses as she did, no doubt thinking in her child's mind that maybe hers were one of a kind.

"Really? That's so cool. Where are they?' She asked.

My daughter absentmindedly touched her face. Today she was dressed outside of her normal uniform of white top and blue bottoms and was instead decked out in her picture day finest. "I actually don't know. Maybe they're in my book bag or maybe at mommy's house or my daddy's house. I have two houses." she said proudly. 

"What?" The little girl asked in amazement. "Your parents must be rich. Are you rich?".

At this point a young Hispanic woman called her name and announced it was time to get off the bus. The little girl and my daughter waved at each other as she got off with her mother. 

Even though her parents aren't rich, my daughter is rich. Just not materially. She's rich with love. But, she does have two houses. That's because my daughter is being raised by both parents, her dad and myself in two different homes. She is part of a co-parenting arrangement. In my home she has myself, my Husband and a little Sister. In her Fathers home she has her Father and a Step-Mother. In both homes she has an abundant supply of love from both parents our partners, siblings and extended families. 

Children need both parents in order to thrive. Even more so society is starting to realize the important role that fathers play in their child's lives. In fact, according to The American Coalition for Fathers and Children, Dads contribute as much as Moms to their Children's well being even if there parenting styles differ. The website also states that Children who live  with both parents at least 33% of the time are better off psychologically and emotionally. 

I agree. My daughter is so well rounded that sometimes even I tend to forget that she is the product of divorced or unmarried parents. Co-parenting or as I used to call it "Sharing" my daughter is not what I initially wanted. Like most mothers I wanted her to myself after the dissolution of my relationship with her father. I found it hard to go nights or long stretches of time without her. I was used to spending every night with her and having her for every holiday, occasion or event. Now, I have come around to the idea of co-parenting along with her father. I no longer look at "sharing" her as something bad. I also do not consider my daughter a statistic. I actually consider her to be pretty damn lucky. She has double the love, twice the experiences and quadruple the attention she would had her dad and I stayed together. Her mental and emotional health is in tact and she is such a sweet and well rounded child.

When we got off the bus and in front of her school my daughter asked me "Why did the little girl ask me if I was rich?" 

"Because you are." I said as I kissed her on the cheek she gave me. 

"I'll see you on Wednesday. Have fun at daddy's house today and tomorrow. Love you".

" Love you too" she replied.

She started down the stairs to her schools entrance and then yelled as I turned my back.

"Mommy" she called.

"Yes, what happened?" I asked.

"You forgot to tell me my words"

I smiled. "Learn something". We both said in unison.