Does being the child of divorced parents really hurt? I think about half my students come from divorced families, blended or extended families. Back in the 60s-80s when divorce wasn't so common the kids had do deal with parents not being together, some whacked up scheduling, and the social stigma of probably being the only one in their class w/ divorced parents. But now? When the divorce rate is 41% (for first marriages)?

She wrote a long (two page) letter to DH covering a number of issues. Most of them truly laughable or insane. I finally have DH "trained" to stop getting mad at her crazy antics. In the middle of his rage a couple weeks ago, I quietly asked, "Why do you expect so much of her? You expect her to be normal or rational. Has she ever been?" It was a breakthrough for him. I reminded him that no one expects a drunk person, or a mentally ill person to be rational...similarly we know The Weasel is never rational, so stop getting mad when she's not. He uses it like a mantra now.

SD19 contacted us at the last minute yesterday to see if she could come stay with us for the night. Usually that means she was fighting w/ her BM. DH told her yes but we have to talk about some things.

When DH got home from work he and I had a quick talk about what needed to be said. To be honest, we almost fought. I have far more harsh feelings about his manipulative, selfish, grown-ass daughter. His response to her crap is always "I've seen worse kids...she's not on drugs or pregnant!" Way to raise the bar of expectations! (sarcasm)

DH and BM are corresponding via terse letters now. She says he should be ashamed of his outburst toward her on phone in front of Dudebug. He reminds her of her obscenity-laden tirade at me in a parking lot two years ago while she was holding his hand and dragging him around in her rage. She refused the August visitation schedule without making alterations thereby indicating DH can't see his son that month.