"She in fact just called at 7:30 said that her coworker made up an ice cream bag for the kids. Do they want to come over and get it or just wait till later. I ask the kids and they say they want ice cream now."
Hmm.. Kids... Ice Cream.. or hang out with dad? Why did you ask? You knew you were beat the second you said Ice Cream!! The second she said Ice Cream.. you should have said we will be there!!
" I tell her they want it now. She then instructs me to make sure the kids do not look like trailer trash. Make sure I comb their hair and stuff."
She still would have said comb the hair.. make sure they look presentable.. she would have lost the chance to instruct you.. had you said.. what time do you want us there.
"I said (wifes name) they are fine you just dropped them off at your mothers a couple of hours ago and I picked them up. We didn't do anything to let them get messy."
Does she wear a watch? To me.. she knew exactly what to say. Maybe she did not want LostPhil there. She knew.. stir up some "drama". Maybe she felt she had to ask. Maybe.. she wanted to see how you would react.. before making the bag (full of Ice Cream)?
"She says just make sure you have them looking like kids not trailer parkers."
Camo pants.. and a yellow shirt on the girl. Throw some flip-flops in just to make the look complete. I always like the shirt for the boy.. that looks good both the right way.. and the wrong way.
"I'm always being criticized for my parenting."
On your parenting.. you do ok. The situation you are in.. the person you are.. you do ok. I said OK. Not father of the year yet. You could be.
"Then we go over there and she hands us a bag of stuff. There was nothing special in it. Just a scoop of vanilla in one cup, and a scoop of chocolate in another. Then another cup filled with sprinkles."
So when did she make the bag LostPhil? Were the kids happy?
"Then we leave. Whoopie ding dong... I should not have answered the phone. I should have told her no we have ice cream in the fridge. I just went over there to get ignored and laughed at."
You left the house with the mentality of being ignored and laughed at. When you got there you had the expectation it was going to be great. She wants to see "ME". LostPhil.. she wants to see her kids.. with their Dad.. Happy. Nothing more.. nothing less.
"Who was there that she wanted them to see me?"
Who did she want to see? He did not show up. You wrote it.
LostPhil.. I could get banned for this.. just posting to you. I am in your safe place.. and you have told me not to post.
You know what.. F it. Let them ban me. I am OK with that.
Brother.. you have the heart.. but your timing sucks!
Your timing sucks because.. everything she does is against you. You think she is out to get you. Prove you wrong.
Read it right here right now.... LET HER STAND WHERE SHE IS.
She wants to do laundry.. let her.
She wants to give you a crappy bag of Ice Cream.. let her.
She wants some beds.. let her.
You are so easy to provoke.. I could do it on a down day.
Stop.. seeking the "drama".
It is not working for you.
I am going to say it as clear as I can.. You must think outside yourself.. to win here.
You cannot be who you were and expect her to come back.
