Am in the midst of more co-parenting issues with STBX. He had the girls last week and returned them on Friday evening totally exhausted, sunburned and probably a little dehydrated.
The next day D7 had a swim meet. These are pretty rigorous days - we have to get up early, check in by 7:00 am, put up a tent for the day and spend 6 or 7 hours outdoors, in this case, in the 100 degree heat. D7 was completely wiped out. I struggled to get enough fluids in her and she was only at about 50%. I considered skipping the meet - but there are only four of them- and she really looks forward to them.
Now - I want to make clear - I'm not really blaming STBX for this. He's never been to a meet and I don't think he realizes how challenging they are. His version of being a good dad is playing with them and entertaining them nonstop when he has them. I realize there are worse things.
But this was something that had to be addressed - and I hate that I have to give so much headspace about how to discuss these things with him. I want to move beyond that. So I rebelled a little bit and just shot off an email with analyzing every word and comma. I had a few other schedule issues to address with him and then I just said, I wasn't sure if he was aware, but swim meets are long hard days and D7 has a better performance and D3 is easier to manage if they are both rested from the day before. No response.
Instead, he needed a schedule accommodation because he got subpoenaed to testify at a trial on Friday. I have to say I also hate that I am so suspicious that he is lying about every stupid little thing. He sent me an email yesterday at 8:30 am saying he had just been subpoenaed for Friday, had spent hours trying to find a babysitter for the girls and wanted to see if I wanted to help. And all I could think was "Yeah, right - you got subpoenaed and spent hours looking for a babysitter all before 8:30 am? Right. And I hate that I'm viewing the father of my kids with such a cynical, jaded lens.
Ah well - I'm probably extra annoyed because I'm at home today nursing D3 who caught strep throat from him.
