When my ex-wife Helen and I divorced, I wanted to keep things peaceful for our kids, Eva and Jim. To make their lives easier, I let Helen live rent-free in one of my parents’ houses so the kids could stay near their school and friends.For a while, it worked. Then Helen remarried and had two more children. Her home became chaotic, and Eva and Jim started coming to me upset and quiet. I later learned their belongings were constantly being damaged by the younger kids, and Helen brushed it off, saying, “Things break, it’s no big deal.”
