There is usually a box, can, or jar involved in pretty much everything I cook. But since I normally cook directly after getting home from work, and not long before cleaning up and getting the kids to bed, I'm rarely inspired to do anything from scratch.

You know, the man who doesn't want to see his children on weekends is probably doing the kids a favor.

There's probably some truth to that.

I don't think so from the kid's perspective. Even indifferent parenting is better than complete absence because that causes lots of damaging feelings of unworthiness and abandonment.

When I was spending a lot of time in the TT Divorce threads there were a lot of studies out indicating that it was better for kids to be in an intact marriage even if there was fighting and tension between the parents. As long as there wasn't outright abuse, the kids did better. Though a lot of the benefits weren't just emotional, but because they didn't suffer the financial hit that comes with divorce and (usually) winding up with a single mom with less resources.

I love Cardiff.

Lovely place! I had a great four years there. (And I haven't been back in ten years. I should go and see what they did to Cardiff Bay, look for the entrance to Torchwood, etc.)

Scotland there's usually a knifing; Ireland there's usually sectarian violence and scandal; Wales there's a tidy new green grocer.

It's so true.

Well apparently they're very drunk and tidy grocers.

Dear Boss. I love you, but.

a) making me work on Saturday (early in the AM) when I still haven't had a lovely weekend off to fully decompress from the 3 weeks of 90+hours really sucks.

b) having me do this dog & pony show means I will not be available for a teleconference with the creative team on the next show. Unless my lovely Buffistas have figured out temporary cloning.

thnks. bye.

(ugggg)

I don't think so from the kid's perspective. Even indifferent parenting is better than complete absence because that causes lots of damaging feelings of unworthiness and abandonment.

That makes sense.

I don't think so from the kid's perspective. Even indifferent parenting is better than complete absence because that causes lots of damaging feelings of unworthiness and abandonment.

It varies, especially depending on the kid's age. I was relieved when my father dropped out of my life completely. It made things far less complicated and there was far less tension about being grilled by him on what my mother was up to and grilled by her on what my father was up to. Plus, it was so clear he felt it was an imposition on his time and he never let me forget how much he was giving up to spend time with me on the precious weekends.

If I felt anyone was unworthy, it was him, for being an asshat.

He's happy to be able to help; whereas I am horrified at not being able to help myself as much as I want to.

Oh, honey, I'm sorry. As a person who considers my independence one of my greatest traits, it is very hard for me to accept help, so I feel your pain. Look at it this way - if you allow him to help you, you're giving him something :)

I do green beans on Thanksgiving, but usually I just steam them crisp-tender and toss with some kind of vinaigrette. At that point in the meal I'm usually a little starch-n-cream-sauced out.

You know, the man who doesn't want to see his children on weekends is probably doing the kids a favor.

There's probably some truth to that.

I don't think so from the kid's perspective. Even indifferent parenting is better than complete absence because that causes lots of damaging feelings of unworthiness and abandonment.

Hec got there before I did. By and large (though obviously not in all cases, as Barb demonstrated), kids -- who aren't yet at the point of adult-level critical reasoning, let's not forget (obviously, again, depending on their age, as all kids aren't exactly the same when it comes to mental/intellectual/emotional maturity)* -- aren't going to think their asshole absent father is doing them a favor. They're going to wonder what they did wrong to make him not want to see them.

*(Did I equivocate enough? That's my favorite t scarcasm Buffista pastime -- making sure that statements are equivocated, because absolute statements are often [though not always (see what I did there?)] followed by a post where someone immediately provides proof/anecdata to the contrary.)