Hope and heartache

[ClingingToHope]

W just called. D7 isn't feeling well and she's wondering which day I can take off if she has to miss a couple of days of school. I said Wednesday since I'm working Saturday for a friend, I have to take a day off.

She also brought up her 2010 vacation schedule. I noticed it on the table when I was there after school. She has to turn it in next week and says "we need to sit down and plan the summer camps."

I need input. I don't really want to talk about summer camps yet. I can plan the weeks we each take vacation. I've always taken three full weeks in the summer and she has taken two. That leaves five to six weeks we have to plan camps.

I don't have any preference when my weeks off are. I can pick my weeks whenever. I have seniority and get what I want. I don't want to talk about summer camps yet because you don't really need to start signing up until February and I'm worried she'll trap me into an argument over who is paying and what camps they can go to.

These are pricey. Last summer we spent $2,500 on camps. I had them all paid for but one when I moved out in May. D7 is too old for half day camps so it'll be at least $2,500 to do the same camps this year. Dottie the DB coach told me not to assume -- so I'll wonder -- if money is already an issue for W, I'm wondering if she's going to pitch just putting the girls at daycare for a couple of weeks this summer. It's a little cheaper -- not much -- but the girls, especially D10 will hate it.

Should I just say I don't have time to come over and discuss camps. Just send me some dates on the vacation schedule and I'll respond to those.

I'm not sure why I really don't want to have the camp conversation face to face. I really have a bad feeling about it.