Sometimes it seems you receive nothing but contempt from society at large. For many single dads, there's nothing you wouldn't give to have free access to your children. The movie Mrs. Doubtfire helped to surface a lot of these complex, difficult emotions. And your situation has only been made worse by the unfortunate legacy associated with single fathers. No matter how committed you may be to your children, you'd be wise to realize from the beginning that it's going to take time to earn back the trust that other men have squandered, whether you're dealing with judges, social workers, or ex-wives.
Divorce naturally brings distrust between a man and woman.
But even though she's no longer your legal spouse, she's still your children's mother. Your kids' sense of confusion and insecurity will be minimized by a civil, cooperative relationship between their parents.