I enjoyed talking with you yesterday... I'm glad you called.
Dan... He is stressed and depressed, but you didn't cause it. He isn't happy with the choices he's made, and you didn't cause them. However, you do have the privilege of being the one person he can blame everything on, so that he doesn't have to take the responsibility himself.
It does seem that seeing you winds him up, and when he gets wound up, he tries to wind you up. And the atmosphere that sets up can't be good for the kids. So, why not do whatever you can to prevent those interactions? At first it will make him mad, but he's going to be mad anyway, so it isn't a big deal, nor is it your problem. Yesterday... probably would have been better not to have him join you in teaching Nate to ride. I know that's hard for you. But, at least for now, there's no such thing as "family time" with Dan.
