She's a game-player that one. Grrr.

She is. And it's so frustrating that she makes this hard, when it doesn't have to be. I can't believe that she would threaten to deprive her child of time with his father, whom he desperately loves, and who loves him, and over what?

Faux drama? It's ridiculous, and would make me sad, if I weren't so angry right now.

But it's something they will have to hammer out, no matter how much I would LOVE to take her to task, it's not my place. Good Lord, woman. He's got a loving father who bends over backwards to see to his needs, and try to keep a cordial relationship with you, even though you are the devil. Differing parenting styles does NOT = unsafe. Good lord.

Just because we can't afford the schmancy preppie camps you demand, and I don't have everything scheduled within an inch of his life with "playdates" and "enrichment activities" - dude, it's SUMMER. I'm a FREAKIN' TEACHER. It's ok to not be a helicopter parent. He gets to have some days with...nothing scheduled. GASP.

Ugh.

She`s probably doing some dealing of her own about you being in his life. That`s a transition for her too.

And it sounds to me like you have lots of plans

And I hated day camps.

But mostly i am glaring in her direction

and Liese is probably very right. And fair.

Oh, I know. And I get that.

But, with my objectivity hat on, she does 90% taking, and we do 90% giving. That's not equitable. I try to keep a sense of proportion about stuff, but I am slowly coming to side with D., that she creates drama from a need for it.

I'm sure she has some frustrations with D. being slowpoke communicator; I can totally see that. But her reactions are completely off-the-mark as far as reasonability goes. It's so damn adversarial.

Which in so strange to me since she's the one who had an adulterous relationship with the child in the house, the one who left the house in arrears, the one who came out financially on top. What's the what?

At 42 years old I've never had to buy a backpack. Where's a good place to get one, please? It needs to be a) under $50, b) long-lasting, and c) not butt-ugly.

I find that most sensible canvas and leather backpacks are found in university or college bookstores.

I have had success and longevity with an "Outbrook" brand one with a leather bottom.

If she doesn't let him visit, isn't she violating a court order? Not to get confrontational or anything but the custody agreement should be set, right?

My nephew dealt with this issue over and over again. It took four years and two lawyers for him to finally get joint custody with his son. The boy's mother always had some lame-ass excuse. He cried when he went, he was scared, my nephew hadn't paid his support (he broke his arm at work and was off for six weeks--support payments don't get taken out of workers comp checks.) That last one--illegal as hell. The judge finally threatened the woman with jail if she violated the agreement again.

Oh, Pix. I am so so sorry.

Skipping ahead to say {{{{{Pix&Drew}}}}} I'm so sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you.