Wife will be off all next week and will be trying to take the kids a bunch of diffeent places while I have no money and am at home.
Maybe you'll get some better advice on this from the pros, but as hard as it would be, I would tell your W and kids to "have a great time doing xyz. That sounds like fun! You guys be good for your mom. I'll see you when you get home." When they get home, ask the kids if they had fun, make a big deal of it to them. Ask what they did and be excited for them . Don't give her the satisfaction of knowing that you weren't included bothers you at all.
My W has pulled this stuff, too. I took the kids swimming for the first time this year a month or so ago. They told her how much fun they had, on and on. I also invited her. In the past several weeks, she had taken them swimming, shopping for new DS games, all kinds of little things. I am never included in the plans. The kids ask me why I can't go swimming with them. I explain that I have to work and that there is plenty of summer time left, I will go swimming with them soon. W tells them we will go on a weekend whe dad can come along. That makes them happy and they will tell me about how good they can swim, how they go off the high dive, how long D6 can hold her breath under water, etc. They miss me being there. We haven't went all together yet.
Maybe I'm way off base here, but I think being excited for the kids is the way to go. Don't show W any sign of being disappointed. If they are just day trips close to home and they will be back the same night. I agree with you that you shouldn't let her take them away somewhere.
Quote:
Oh well, I will be okay. I have to say it and mean it over and over. I can't believe the stress that I am experiencing today.
