“You hope for the kids to be happy and are content thinking they probably are less conflicted without you trying to be in their life.”
Except that fathers have a Biblical mandate to be active in the raising of their children (the Proverb says to train them up in the way they should go, and when they are old, they will not depart from it). Also, see Ephesians 5. Capitulating to the demands of a selfish parent (often Mom who has primary custody), and handing over children to be raised in an unsuitable environment, which might include an environment with no Dad (or almost no Dad) is never in the best interests the child(ren); there is no true peace for the child when they are isolated from one parent.
I spent 20 years trying to invite them to visit, go out and do things, come over for dinner...
My wife at the time spent hours making a very nice dinner for them at our home. They never showed up and never apologized.
I wasn’t judgmental. We took it in stride.
One day after having seen my grandson about five times in seven years, I said to myself, enough is enough.
I’ve never looked back.