A valid reason for a woman to leave her child?

[jaaaarne]

Guys, I really need your help. This is a pretty much relationship advice for a romance novel, though, so I'm sorry if the question seems stupid or inappropriate.

Now. The story is set in the modern era Western-type society, about 7-10 years in the future. There is a couple that once had a sudden, bright and passionate romance, that, sadly, turned out to be pretty short-lived. Therefore, they divorce, having gone from being madly in love to hostility. The question is, they have a 2 y.o. baby which I need to stay with its father after the divorce.

I don't want to demonize the mother and I really don't want to kill her off (she's not a bad person, besides, it would be awesome if I could still have this character later in the story), but I need to somehow make it work. Being a woman myself I honestly cannot come up with any explanations. This has to be a non-scandalous arrangement, no forcing the kid away from her mother or something. They have to agree on the terms. I need some valid reason for the mother to agree that the baby will be better off with the father, although she and her ex-husband are now pretty hostile to each other. The mother is about 27-29 when she divorces her husband. Also, she's a kind of a performer (not a celebrity!) traveling a lot, so maybe the arrangement can somehow be tied to that?

All and any input on this will be appreciated. :)

Comments

[dragonjournal]

If she's travelling a lot, stability for the child could be her biggest reason. Also, if she doesn't have a steady income, while he does, that could be another reason. You don't have to demonise her.

Personal story time:

I went through a really rough patch, mentally, and had two young children. Because I felt I could not care for them - one has disabilities - I turned over custody to their paternal grandmother (even though I was divorced and HATE her son, my former hubby, and their father) so that they could have stability, and my disabled child could get the help she needed, while I got myself together. It eventually turned into a permanent arrangement, because I took a LONG time to get myself together, and by then, them staying and not being uprooted was in their best interest. I have a beautiful, open relationship with them. If I hadn't done what I did, though, I doubt they'd be as well adjusted and terrific as they are now.

[jaaaarne]

Oh, thank you for your valuable input. Guess, I'll use the child's stability reason, after all. I really want both parents to be generally good people with some issues. That's a weakness I have to admit to having: I generally don't do evil characters. :)

[dragonjournal]

I'm just glad that you asked. Too often, people say "A mom wouldn't do that!" However, if it is in the best interest of the child, a mom will. Or at least should.