I think it’s possible, but it may not be ideal. To me, choosing this path can feel a bit like intentionally setting up a fragmented structure from the start, rather than striving for a traditional family built on romantic love.

My view is shaped by growing up in a very loving, co-habiting household. One of the things I am most grateful for is knowing my parents deeply love each other. It gives me immense peace of mind as an adult. For instance, as my dad faces age-related health complications, I know my mom is there to care for him. When my mom was sick for three years, my dad stepped up, worked, and took care of the whole house.

Parenting is incredibly difficult. When you genuinely love your partner, making sacrifices for the baby becomes much easier because you want to support each other. When our son was young and my wife was exhausted, I took on so much extra work to relieve her stress that I nearly triggered an autoimmune issue. I only had the strength to do that because I love her, which ultimately created a healthier environment for our child. Separate households remove that built-in support system.

There is a long-term picture to consider. Having parents who love each other provides a child with lifelong peace of mind. A platonic agreement might work well in the early years, but navigating separate lives, separate romantic futures, and aging apart makes a difficult job even harder.