You have made a fair offer of alternating each year with the same times as every other special day and holiday. He is just yanking your chain. Trying to get you to take the bait.
In negotiations there are times when you stand firm. To demonstrate that you serious and that compromise only goes so far. I think this may be one of those times.
XH, I’m sorry you feel that way. The agreement before you is fair. It alternates Christmas Day between us every year. The pick up time is 5:00pm; like every other exchange throughout the year.
That’s it. Acknowledge and validate him, and just reiterate the proposal.
Leave it hanging. No take it or leave it, nor anything else. There is plenty said and implied in such a short response.
As you said, XH knows you didn’t want to budge on Christmas. I think he is just seeing how far he can push. You need not push back, just be a solid rock. The proposal is fair. Be unmovable and see where it goes.
XH will roll it around in his mind. Reading and rereading it. The more times he tells himself the agreement, the more he moulds himself to it. It’s a fair proposal. There is little he can really fight against.
D
Feelings are fleeting. Be better, not bitter. Love the person, forgive the sin.
