Every once in a while, on a Friday afternoon, lunchtime, in the back of a commerical parking lot, I observe the swap: the transfer of the children from one parent to the other for the weekend. This past Friday, the mother was dressed in professional attire, an office worker of some sort, and the father was casual, took the afternoon off, perhaps. The child was young, still in one of those rear-facing, infant carriers, probably less than six months. Nice, SUV-type cars for both. The mother left, returning to work, before the father was fully settled with the base and infant secured. The noon hour was almost gone. I watched intently in case he needed help but within minutes, he too was on his way. And I thought to myself that this sort of thing happens across the country in a variety of public places on Fridays and Sundays.

Within three months of returning to work after my first was born, my entire tech group relocated from AT&T in Lincroft to AT&T in Middletown. My son's day care was in Wickatunk along route 520, just outside Marlboro, actually -- a non-sectarian program sponsored by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd. Since, the day care has closed and the space was converted to dorms for a community from Hamilton Square. But, anyhow, I submitted a change of work address with my son's day care provider when the relocation was official and a week or two later, one of his providers told me that my son was "acting out". I could not account for it; he was fine at home. She said, "Well, this sort of thing happens when young parents split up." I was so shocked ... and, frankly, a little frightened because not only was my change of address information apparently misapplied in the front office but his providers were projecting mistaken personal information onto his behavior! Fortunately, my son left that room within a few weeks as he "moved up" with older children. My relationship was never quite the same with his original providers after that misunderstanding. I have a difficult time dealing with anyone who questions my integrity.