Maybe not too complicated to understand

[Michael Mc C]

It's interesting how things that are mentioned to me by friends and family, things that W has mentioned to them, take priority order based on severity or craziness. Over the weekend my neighbor mentioned things W had said and I have dealt with each of them, in my own head, except for one - the least crazy of her comments, but crazy nonetheless.

W mentioned that if she has to leave the house because of anything she does, I will only be punishing MYSELF. She said that I am not prepared to handle everything that she takes care of (kids, pets, housework, etc.) and that I'm going to find myself regretting it.

I'm grateful for these insider remarks (but I hate the fact that W is spreading the "good news" around town and making an ass of herself and, to some extent, my entire family). However I have now digested this latest comment (wasn't hard to do) and I'll be prepared if she ever throws it at me.

Quite frankly I am prepared to do whatever it takes to keep my family moving forward and functioning in a happy and healthy way. I may not do a top notch job but I will not give it up for anything. Is it something I look forward to doing alone? No, of course not. Faced with no other sensible solution though what else would anyone expect me to do?

And... my W stayed at MIL's house this Saturday night to help her with some job-related items. Sunday a.m. D13 stepped up and did everything she could to help me with D11 and S8, as well as housework. I told her she did not have to but she was more than happy to do it. I hope that this never becomes a necessity. Kids need to be kids. I thanked her at least a half dozen times throughout the day yesterday and told her how proud I was of her. Last night it did make me a little tearful thinking that this is how it might turn out - not for the M but for D13 (and the other kids) if the M continues to go south. They should be allowed to grow up at the pace God intended.

If W leaves, I won't lean on the kids but I will be sure that anything they do is recognized and appreciated. I don't want any of them feeling they have to replace their mother - not sure if this is a natural response for them in these situations.