a new perspective

I read an article today about how the Pearl Harbor memorial and museum recently unveiled a "Japanese perspective" on the run up to WWII. It got me thinking. I wonder if I should take on an "ex perspective" on the run up to Family War II (FWII). So here it goes, from the ex's point of view, speaking to his child:

1. I repeatedly cheated on your mother. Sure...we went to several months of marriage counselling, but it was just a bunch of people trying to tell me what to do. I'm an adult. I can make my own choices. So when your mom finally asked me to move out, I chose to wait until your second birthday to do so.
2. I never did like that "child support" thing. Why should I pay your mom anything? But I had to pay it, so I did. I might have been late a few times (or 46) over the (4) years, but whatever.
3. I often put my job ahead of you on my list of priorities. You have to understand, Scooter. I like my job. I also liked my new-found singledom. It was nice to skip a day with you now and again in order to hang out with my friends. It didn't hurt anyone (except you, maybe), and besides...you were ALWAYS there if I wanted to see you.
4. When given the option between seeing you and jerking your mom around, well...the temptation to jerk your mom around was just too great. That's why I never took any time off work to spend with you when your mom would go out of town.
5. When your mom brought up the idea of you and her moving out of state, I told her to go ahead and do it. I'd see you in the summers, afterall, and that way, I wouldn't have to drive across town all the time to get you. I mean, no offense, but it was a PAIN to drive all that way just to spend time with you.
6. I never told your mom that I changed my mind about the move. Have you ever seen her when she's angry, or when she thinks she's right about something? She always has all of these logical arguments, and I don't want to deal with that, anymore.
7. I hired a bad attorney. I came to trial unprepared. I lied. A lot. I'm just not good with communication or looking objectively at situations.
8. My unpreparedness turned around and bit me when I lost the court case. The judge adopted all of your mother's suggestions, which were provided to the court. I didn't provide anything, but MAN...I don't understand why I didn't get anything I wanted. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I don't want to be judged on my past actions. I want to be judged on my intentions! I don't understand why the judge did what he did!
9. I have allowed outside influences to cloud my judgement when it comes to your grandmother. I know she loves you. She and I used to have a good relationship, but the fact that she birthed your mother just makes me SO MAD. You can't see her anymore under my care because obviously, it would be logical and mature for me to nurture relationships between you and some of the people who love you. We all know I hate that stuff.
10. The worst thing in the world is that my child support obligation went up. I can't see it as a means for you to be cared for. I can only see it as a means to benefit your mom.

Hm...yeah. I guess when you look at it that way...WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?!!! My mom was your one champion in all of this. My mom could see your perspective more often than I sometimes wanted to hear, and she's the very person that you are alienating right now. Well...her and your own daughter. The parenting plan that we put together was GENEROUS. Get over your nonsense and start acting like you actually care for your daughter.