X called and asked to talk to me. He wants to take the kids for the weekend early, since he couldn't afford to take them on a week vacation. He wants to bring them to an amusement park. He asked to get them on Thursday rather than Fri; I said I'd think about it - wasn't Fri morning ok? (My S doesn't have a room there; he sleeps on the couch rather than having his father build a room in the basement next to the 16 year old daughter of gf). He said it would be easier for him if he could get them earlier - I said I'd let him know.
When he called about an hour later to talk to the kids and tell them. I heard D saying, oh, we'll stay over with you on Thursday?
Now, where I messed up - my knee-jerk reaction. Trying to manage my X's relationship with my kids. I turned to S and said that his dad was going to take them to the amusement park, but I wasn't sure if it was Thurs or Fri, yet. That if his dad asked, but he wanted to sleep in his own bed, it was ok with me and they could go Fri - that it was completely up to him, I had plans either way.
D tells her dad later in the convo that I just told her brother about the plans.
Now, X is pissed. He talks to S for a minute, demands to talk to me. All sad-sounding, did I really just do that, ruin the only surprise he could afford, etc.
What was I going to say? I think I said sorry but didn't explain myself. S had already told him to talk nicely with me, not be negative (protecting me, sh*t). I gave the phone back to S, who said That didn't sound very positive to me, then said Change the subject - he didn't want to listen to his father complain about me.
I almost emailed X to explain....
but came here. Not really worth it. I am sure it will come up in the co-parenting C on 9/1, and I'll try to say something, then. Maybe.
S was talking to me this week about how X is making sure to say that "gf did ___ for you," talk her up, etc. He was really resentful that his dad took a lot of time out of his birthday baseball game to talk about the sitch, promote their relationship, etc. I just said that he and his dad would have to work it out, he could also talk with the IC., and that his dad really loved him and cared a lot about him.
