Need help saving my family - part 10

[melissag]

It's better . . . bust still a little bossy. I am not sure how bossy you need to be with your W - you will have to play with it a bit to figure out how firm you have to be to avoid her trying to trample you.

If you really wanted to be cooperative, you might say (about the phone call) - could you make the kids available to speak with me at 4:00 instead? If not, please let me know what time would work."

That way, you are being respectful of your W and her schedule, and not being demanding and unyielding, but you are being firm in your intent to speak with your kids, whether they have gymnastics or not.

Same kind of things with the visits. You could propose a time to pick up/drop off the kids, and ask whether that works for her - if not, could she propose a time that is better?