So I did have a little hiccup this morning. D6 stayed with STBX last night and they came over this morning to pick up D3.
D6 announced that next week they were going to go see "Lisa's friends" so that Daddy and Lisa could see them open some presents.
I knew they would do something with the girls so that shouldn't have come as a surprise, but hearing it just made me incredibly nauseous. I'm trying to break down why I find something like this so upsetting and I guess its for multiple reasons.
1. I hate these multiple versions of the same holiday for the kids. I'm sure its a bonus for them (more presents) but somehow to me it feels like it diminishes the actual holiday
2. I hate the way STBX presents this stuff to the kids. It's always phrased is a self pitying way - "so that Daddy gets to see them open some presents. He apparently also says stuff like "Poor daddy doesn't get to see them as often".
3. I'm sorry - but I really react to the idea of "Lisa" celebrating a holiday with my kids in basically a familial role. I notice that I'm very jealous of her spending time with my kids but not at all about her celebrating the holiday with STBX.
Of course, D6 shouldn't be the one telling me all of this. STBX should. I guess its just something else to address when we go to co-parent counseling. I'm also starting to get nervous about this - my basic issue is how do I co-parent effectively with someone who has been so untrustworthy? Even with a trained third party present - it just seems like things could really go downhill.
Blech.
To be fair - STBX did say I could have all the Christmases since I have family here - so I do give him credit on that one.