I called him back
08/17/2004 02:22 p.m.


I don't know where I got the idea, or the courage (well, wait, I think I do know, but anyway...) but I called the kids' dad back last night. I didn't bash him. I simply said, "You and C**** need to do whatever you feel you have to do as far as the child support issue goes. Personally, I really value the progress we've made in everyone getting along, and I don't want to lose that. Still, I do feel it's important that I say a couple of things. It's a really difficult situation for me, because I've never stopped wanting the kids to have the opportunity to be with me, and I wanted to tell you, from my perspective, what happened. I just told them that as far as I'm concerned, they always have the option of living with me. I know you don't agree, and I know you saw it as going behind your back. I don't think of it that way. I believe (and if you look at things honestly, I believe you have to agree) that I'm certainly no worse of a parent than you are, and I certainly deserve to have the kids with me as much as you do. I love our children, too, and I've missed them terribly through all these years. So, you need to know that I'll never stop telling them that they have a place in my home should they ever decide they'd like or need to be with me. It doesn't have anything to do with faulting you and C**** as parents. It just has to do with me being their mother and wanting what's fair for both them and me. I was kind of hoping that we could agree to disagree on this point, so that we wouldn't have to give up all the work we've done on getting along." He didn't speak for a few moments, but then he finally said, "I appreciate what you've said very much. I don't want to lose that either. Thank you, it means alot to us."

Well, I have no idea where things will end up. I'm pretty sure he already sent the child support revision papers in, which wasn't why I called anyway - my point needed to be made, and somehow I KNOW I'll make it financially despite the extra hardship. The thing is, it's not a matter of the kids who live with him needing the money - of COURSE they need the money. I mean, if I could afford it, I would give them so much more. But Kate and I have to survive too - at least minimally. Anyway, I suddenly had the idea of what to say, and it's not the kind of thing I would have come up with given my own (angry) thought processes...it had to be inspired by someone with a broader view than mine...LOL!!!
I am currently Better
I am listening to OMG, if I don't go right now, I'll be late for work!!!