Ha! Steve, my W is one of those overly competitive folks. I'm sure she'll be banned from one of his games in the future. I can just see her being hauled out of a basketball arena with S5 looking horrified. j/k.

Interesting afternoon. S5 was testy and said lots of difficult stuff like "I hate you." Reunification stuff. Nearly stopped my heart when he said that W had a new boyfriend, and that they were going to have a new baby when she moved into her condo. S5 commented how I looked old, and how 'Bruce' looks young and strong, like Superman. I realized that he had just spent the weekend with MIL/FIL and that a few days with them could send anyone over the deep end. I also realized that his favorite character, Batman, is named Bruce Wayne in 'real life.' Yet when we got back this evening from practicing baseball, dinner out and giving him a bath, I asked to speak to W privately (I know, bad DBing here).

I could tell she was nervous (her arms crossed as we walked to the kitchen), and I started calmly:
G: "I know that some things are no longer my business, yet S5 shared some things with me today that have left me puzzled. I thought we could maybe just talk like adults about them."
W: (looking scared)"Okay."
G: "S5 said that you have a new BF and that you're expecting a baby."
W: (bursting into laughter). "Oh no! Gabe! I don't. I don't have a BF, and I'm not pregnant. I'm not dating and have no desire to. And it IS your business because I'm the mother of your son."

I exhaled deeply commented that reuniting with S5 is hard sometimes. We lightened up the convo there, and talked about S5, his feelings, how to make things easier on him. I didn't reassure W in turn about my dating or not, prefering some mystery to none.

More convo happened, w/ W talking about her parents, worrying then complaining a bit about them, and asking me about mine. We both agreed that we are a rare presence in our field - 2 folks from very blue-collar families with parents still struggling financially. W talked a bit about her financial plans and struggles, I shared a bit about what I was doing, and we agreed together that it was a good thing that W was focusing more on S5 and not trying to overwork at her job. She commented, "Its good that one of us is going to make some money." She seemed to soften toward me as we continued on.

Scary a bit there. Maybe I shouldn't have sought reassurance, but boy was that a zinger there. I must have at least 100 new white hairs! I hope when I'm old and senile, I remember to pee on S5's furniture a few times to pay him back for that one!

Gabriel

God heals the broken-hearted (Psalm 147:3)

Me: 44
W: 40
Separated 8/2011

S12
SD14
SS12
SD10