Thanks so much, Gardener. I know I'm doing the best I can but when you have to take something away from your kids it hurts. But, finances are a reality too. I don't have a house which is building equity like STBX, I have a decent sized bank account from the separation which dwindles every month due to expenses, most of which can't be helped. Did I mention I had a $600 car repair last month too? Anyway, my D13 is just incredible. I've never seen a kid who can just feel her pain and then move on. She always looks at the bright side of all situations. When something hurts, like her hamster dying, she cries and feels her pain but moves on. She's always been like that, so what she said to me about the summer camp was just her being herself. Last week her gymnastics coach suggested she get a massage for her lower back. STBX set up the massage but when D13 heard it would cost us $80 she didn't want to have it. I told her that mom's benefit plan would help cover some of the cost so she went. Well, tonight STBX took me, the kids and my parents out for Father's Day dinner. We had a nice meal at a Shanghai restaurant I suggested. She gave me a nice Father's Day card also. And just to be fair here, her comment re: the hamster messing up her yard was meant as a humorous comment, not a mean one but it was just rather inappropriate for the moment which D16 pointed out to her.
