If Not Now, When?

[BobbiJo]

I draw the line at the Wii. I refuse to get sucked into their mind games/competitions.

I was asking Sydney in the car today, which blankie she wanted to take to her dads. (They each have a few fleece blankets they use when watching tv, lounging, etc.)

She says, "Grandma already bought us blankets for dad's house, and movies for his dvd player...." Oh well, one less thing to pack! Grandma must be racking up quite the credit card debt

OK gotta go wrangle the kids for bed time!

[BobbiJo]

Forgot to mention, I went over to Russell's (hs friend/speech guy) room after school. Turns out we had 9 performances qualify for the All-State Speech Festival!

And he is campaigning for them to let me go along as coach and girls' chaperone (5 girls made it and the other 2 coaches are guys). Also he already requested that the school name me the third coach for next year, so I will be 'legit'...

[mindfull]

BBJ - You are already LEGIT! HUGS! WTG!

[ClingingToHope]

You can't control the in laws. My MIL likes me, but she loves her daughter. And W can't save. Never has been able to so the MIL is going to be the one financing things like trips and electronics.

D11 told me a few weeks ago she may go to New York for Christmas. Really? Two years ago we plotted out a list of family trips to take over the years and going to Broadway was one of them.

I'm saving now for NEXT YEAR'S spring break trip. I know -- OK, strongly suspect -- W isn't going to save for a trip to NYC. It must be MIL.

But then I remember how MIL grew up. After she got married, an aunt died and left her $108,000. They spent all of it over 20 years and now she's down to her final $20,000 on her home equity line of credit because she keeps bailing SIL out of credit card debt.

After that, she's broke.

By my guesstimates, that gives W about three years of leaning on MIL.

In the end, it all boomerangs back. Don't get caught up in the arms race with the ex and his parents.

[BobbiJo]

Don't worry, no interest in the arms race!

Put the kids to bed, I still hear Sydney coughing but I think Nathan is asleep.

We made a Target run earlier, got the kiddos extra socks, undies and PJs to take to their dads house. We have plenty of regular clothes to split up, but not so much on the accessories/unmentionables.

Got them each a suitcase packed with enough clothes to last for a week, so I figure Dan can wash/rotate it out or buy more if he feels like it...plus we got new toothbrushes, toothpaste, and detangler for Syney's hair. They should be good to go!

Dan texted at 10 "Sorry, still at dinner, will call soon."

Ummm, fine.... did he thinking I was counting the minutes for his arrival?

Then he called at 10:15 to chit chat and say he was on his way. Okey dokey then!

Gotta go switch out laundry, I have an exciting life don't I?

[cw68]

Funny that people brought up Wii. XH and I had always agreed that we were a video-game-free household. Then about eight months after we separated, I bought a Wii.

The kids were having so much more fun at Dad's house; playing in the yard with the neighbor kids, going places with Dad and his new girlfriend, going to the club, just enjoying happy-go-lucky Dad. Mom's house was less fun; I had just gone back to work full-time for the first time in eight years and was learning to juggle that, we didn't have a yard, we were new to the neighborhood, I couldn't afford the club membership anymore and I was just generally more stressed.

It wasn't a way to compete with my XH, it was a way to give the kids some fun at Mom's too, instead just having fun at Dad's.

[Virtually_Handsome]

(((((BobbiJo)))))

Yep, it's an exciting life! Actually, with speech, and being a great mom, I think your life is about the right "fullness" right now!

Oh, I should mention that it's supposed to be about 80 from Wednesday on!

[Kalni]

Hi sis!!!
Summer is approaching fast!! How about arranging some trips with the kids? How about visting Maddison and Montreal and Protland and Arizona? And if those arent any good, how about Athens?
xxx
K

[ClingingToHope]

cw68. I hear you on the fun place part. Since I moved out, I'm in an apartment and had to spend the winter telling them they couldn't jump on the furniture or sing at the top of their voices past 8 p.m. because of the neighbors.

They've always had a nice big house so that was really depressing.

But now that the weather is better they can get outside and play with the other kids in the complex -- and there's a lot -- so I'll be OK here for a while.

I just have to find a house I can rent by end of summer -- something I can hold onto for three years.

BBJ. You are fortunate to have a house they can call home. They may seem excited by Dan's new place -- new things are cool. But wherever you are is home.

I asked my D7 how she was doing the other day. She's usually not a deep thinker. She just focuses on what is in front of her.

She said at first, it was great, because she loved having two places to go and explore. Now, she hates it because she wants daddy there every night.

It sucks not being able to fix this.

[john210]

Hey BBJ,

The more they spend, the less stuff you need to bring over there. Don't sweat it. There may be a guilt issue involved in all of this spending. My XW sure seems to spend alot of money on vacations etc. XW yesterday mentionned that she was low on cash and did not purchase a driver ($300). Yet she can go to Vegas for 4 days and 2 weeks in FLA. etc etc. Meanwhile, I am putting money away for University....I doubt she is.....so, I do not let it get to me at all.
My D once said to me that it really does not matter where she goes but more who she is with. I think I will take K's suggestion and plan some short trips .... perhaps you should as well.