Lord, I hope so. I know it could be worse...I 'could' have pancreatic cancer or something like that! My kids haven't been to our house with me pretty much since we've been back from Spring Break. Daughter got pissed because I wouldn't let her take a suitcase to her mom's (her mom has already kept 1 that I let her borrow to go on one of her cruises) after my son encouraged me to not let her take it because "mom will keep it." Son is mad because he got grounded from the computer for strong profanity, being mean, calling me names, and not minding. I've heard from them how they "hate" me and wish I weren't their father, and what a "horrible parent I am", etc. It breaks my heart...but I don't show it to them. I know that hurting people say hurtful things, and mad people say hurtful things. Son got suspended from school when he was at his mom's last week, and she let him stay home on the computer all day while he was suspended. Tonight she's taking him to an NBA game! Whatever it takes to keep them over there...that's what she'll do. She has poisoned them against me since she filed for divorce. I've seen a huge change in them since then. I'm trying not to take what they say personal...it's hard. I have to use sound judgement to regulate and modulate my emotion. This all comes at such a bad time though, as we are in the midst of an awful custody battle. But I can't let them curse, be mean, call me names, or not mind...regardless of the situation. That's not being a parent, and it's not loving them. They are being 'coached' by their mom...they say pretty much word for word the same things that she sends to me in her nastygrams via text.
ps - Isn't it true that without boundaries we cannot have healthy relationships with others...even our children?
"Always go straight forward, and if you meet the devil, cut him in two and go between the pieces." - William Sturgis, clipper ship captain, 1830's.
