Monkeyboy has really let go of his Dad. he doesn't expect much from him and all he cares about is that he can live with me. He loves his Dad immensely but he doesn't trust him. That's a sad state of affairs.
It is very sad, I know, but it is good that Monkeyboy deals with it this way. Doesn't change how sad it is.
How will it be during holidays? Will you have Monkeygirl during the days then too?
Yes, holidays are fair. March Break is 2 weeks so we each get them for one week. Summer holidays, we each have them for 2 weeks together. Then the rest of the holiday one child is with me, the other with him Monday-Friday and on weekends they're always together. Then the following Monday we switch which child we have. That way they can do their individual camps. I didn't want them apart that much, but I compromised because he didn't have them together at all if he got his way. The mediation was good in that it helped me have a voice, but it was horrific in that I got to hear what his intentions really were and I felt sick to my stomach.
All the major holidays we split. Birthdays we switch years on who is responsible for planning the parties.
I'm thankful though that when he does have monkeygirl, it's basically for her to sleep at his house or she's with my inlaws. My sister in law has 3 young daughters and monkeygirl is very close with her kids so it's good when she's there and she can just be a little girl. He doesn't nurture the brother/sister bond. In fact, I'd say he interferes to keep it distant and always blames monkeyboy for things. So it's up to me to keep the balance.
