I think it depends on the parent. If the parent is a loser, its probably not the best idea to hang around and poison the kids and the environment. Should he have got involved and provided some support to the best of his ability, of course but hence the Loser status.
My ex and I realized we couldn't continue with a loving household after 7 years of marriage and having created a budding family. I think this was the single most hardest and heartwrenching thing to confront and to make the break.
We split and I took the kids on eventually full time. My job then took me to different states over the years leaving me to raise my two kids single handedly. We all managed to survive. It's not easy but it can be done.
Daughter is now 27 and son is 25.
Here's a shot of my daughter and my two grandkids during a Boulder, NV train ride last week.
