Wife comes to pick our son up. Our son says: "No, I don't want to go. ...I don't like mommy. NOOOO!"
M: E, be nice to mommy. W: I know he doesn't mean that. M: It was his tone. W: Yeah.
A few minutes later while we were loading him in the car, my wife started (lo and behold) a casual conversation. She told me about her exhausting and long day at the clinic (e.g. having to stand face to face with a man's crotch and freeze warts off his you-know-what), and also told me something funny our son did last night; she was telling the story and getting our son involved in it as well.
It may not have meant anything to her, but I just take interactions like these as pluses, especially when I see our son feeling and seeing the positive energy. It's good for young children.
On another note: In my upcoming monthly billing e-mail I send my wife, I intend on bringing up the request make a change to our "parenting schedule" to have our son at my place for another night in the week (the # of hours with him per week is in her favor right now, 80 to 49, in fact.). Here's my draft, and I welcome your comments and criticism:
"There is another matter I'd like to discuss, which is E's schedule. I believe that E would benefit from a more balanced week with mommy and daddy, so I would like to ask that he spend an extra night at my home per week. Do let me know what you think. Thanks."
