How do men have kids with different women?

I mean I know how they do… I am aware of the mechanics of it…

Every now and then I write stories that I define as intimate. Sensitive too. I guess this is one of them.

Today on Facebook a male connection posted a picture of his newborn baby. We’re not close friends so I don’t know the details of his personal life. I know however that he has two kids from his marriage. His ex-wife is one of my connections on Facebook (similarly, I don’t know her well). I have no idea how their first relationship ended. Amicable? Ugly? Who’s taking care of the kids? Are ex-spouses communicating? I have no idea.

That the birth of a child for my acquaintance is a huge life event I don’t doubt. I have four kids! I know!

But every time I see this situation — a man having a child in a new relationship, I can’t help wondering and digging into my heart, my soul, my life.

And I have other examples. My own father! My parents divorced after twenty years of marriage. My step-sister is almost … Damn I can’t even remember how old she is. Twenty-something. My uncle two. He now has two kids from his second relationship.

I’m not judging. I am not! I’m not virtue signaling either.

But I just can’t imagine…

My four kids, OUR four kids — they are the very essence, the soul, the outcome, the reflection, the testament, the fruits, the spirit of the incredible love my wife and I have experienced. I’m…