Love the child more than you despise the ex

Phyllis Hammond

Examiner.com

If every divorced parent could love their child more than they despise their former spouse, things would be better for children, parents and step-parents alike.
Probably the person least prepared to handle the ramifications of divorce is the one most affected the by parents' inability to get along - the child.

Divorced parents can come to an uneasy truce as they learn to navigate separate lives, but the event of a new marriage for one is often enough to tip the boat for the other, and anger comes to the forefront. Bitter words said to or about a former spouse don't hurt the ex nearly as much as they hurt the child.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-16511-Colorado-Springs-Step-Parenting-Examiner~y2009m7d31-Love-your-child-more-than-you-despise-your-ex