As I sit here while my DH is arguing yet again with BM because the children are still out with their grandma, I keep thinking about all of the crap that BM keeps putting us and the children through. Its bad enough that SD8 is not doing well in school, hates to go to school and makes up reasons to stay home from school, now BM is letting them stay out all night so that they are tired for school tomorrow. I just wish she would realize that the things she does are detrimental to the children's well-being. I really do love my skids and it kills me to know that BM only does what is best for her. They don't get to enjoy their childhood when they are with her. She is too worried about losing that CS so she is making them worry about all of the court stuff instead of letting them just have fun. We hardly get to do anything with the children anymore that is fun because she keeps them in so many sports and activities (which of course are on our weekend time so she doesn't actually have to take them) and comes up with excuses to get them on our time that we don't have a free minute to even take them to a movie or to the park. The kids are so different when they are with us than when they are with her. When they are here they are light-hearted, loving, care-free kids. Then they have to go back to her house where they become distant, withdrawn and seem to be stressed and depressed. I am so worried that she is going to convince them to lie to the GAL and they will be stuck as part of the cycle with their mom and grandma, in a home where they are taught that women shouldn't have to work so therefore education shouldn't be as important as looks and popularity, that the men are the ones who are sopposed to do that so the boys are expected to grow up faster and act older than they are, where it is OK and even encouraged to lie and cheat, where you are taught to be lazy and that is you don't get what you want to tell everyone you are sick so they feel sorry for you. I am so frustrated with BM and her manipulations.