Together Poem by Anna Zanidaki

A wonderful portrayal by a friend and creator.
Giorgos Golfinopoulos
While there is still time.
Some fathers—stop using your children as tools against the very person who brought into your arms your greatest shared miracle.
And the same goes for you, mothers—stop reaching into your quivers for those arrows that never seem to miss: the personal grievances you harbor, embellished with vile, shameless lies.
PARENTS—that is what we are, and that role never ceases. Even if our lives have diverged, our shared thoughts—focused on the well-being of our offspring—must take precedence.
And as for you, the new partners—men and women alike—you may claim, 'We aren't involved; we stay out of it.' But your actions and the observable reality suggest otherwise, evidenced by specific, concrete behaviors.
Please, keep your distance and let the couple work things out—if only for the sake of their children. Just ensure you don't get in their way—even if, at times, it happens unintentionally. Maintain a stance that is commendable, significant, and detached—yet authentic—without sowing discord; discord which, in its worst form, manifests as an intrusion, fueled by schemes and underhanded, manipulative tactics.
After all, our children—who, depending on their age, are often well-rounded individuals in their own right—possess their own opinions, viewpoints, powers of judgment, and critical faculties. Believe me, their instincts will never lead them to make the wrong move.
As for those of you who have chosen to revisit a prolonged, 'mature' adolescence: please understand that when you prioritize the needs of others—from our perspective—it is always deeply appreciated. It ensures you are seen as someone who acts for the good of the whole, rather than for your own self-interest, while remaining an integral part of the family you already belong to.
For 'family' is not limited to the one you have newly created; it also encompasses the family from which you came—a place where another soul gave everything, making immense personal sacrifices, just so that you might feel secure and at ease, even while living apart—by your own choice.
So, look your children in the eye and embrace the side of you that reflects true inner richness—rejecting, instead, any selfish stinginess, emotional detachment, or petty, demeaning maneuvers and tactics. A family is not defined merely by a union or a connection, but by an essential element that is incomparable to anything or anyone else.
Sincerity, love, and respect—and, above all, never place anyone or anything above the needs of your children! —Anna Zanidaki.
P.S. If you want to have your children by your side—now and in the future—you should have made sure to be present in their past.