It's All My Husband's Fault

  Daughter's team is making plans to attend the girls' state basketball tournament.  Once again, the tournament is on The Ex's weekend and it's right around her birthday.  If you need a refresher as to how well The Ex handled this the first time around, click here .   Daughter has already been talking about going to state this year, how she's so incredibly excited, how she can't wait.  I asked if there was something happening this year that she was particularly excited about; she said no, she just loves going every year.  I asked her if I was also going again this year; she said, "Of course you are!"  I laughed and said okay, I just wanted to make sure; I didn't want to assume that I was going and just invite myself.  Daughter said no, she was planning on me going with them the whole time.   On January 28th, Husband sent this email with the subject "State basketball tournament": "[Daughter's] basketball team is attending the...

  Friday night, Son stopped at our house.  He had come down to pick up our neighbor's son for the weekend and stopped by us.  I showed him everything we had bought for them and told him to just act surprised on Sunday when they opened it all because let's be honest: the girls are the ones who really care about the presents.  He said he was happy we bought them a mobile because Girlfriend "really wanted one of those."   Son then said, "Um, so I guess Mom( The Ex ) is bringing Jell-O shots and liquor to the shower?"  Husband and I both stood there and didn't say much.  Son made a face, looked between both of us and asked, "Like...is that even okay?" ( I'm going to be petty and remind everyone that the court order still reads that The Ex is not to consume alcohol during her placement periods.  That was entered because she was given a citation for giving alcohol to teenagers, who later told the cops that she traded them liquor for babysittin...

  Saturday, I got a phone call from Daughter.  It sounded like she was at the store; I assumed she was with The Ex.  Daughter asked if I had bought a mobile for Son & Girlfriend's baby shower. I said yes.  Daughter asked what kind I had gotten.  I said it matched the crib set that we had bought for them.  Daughter asked what it looked like.  I said it had arrows on it; I was messaging back and forth with Girlfriend, she picked one out and that's what we bought.  Daughter asked if it had animals; I said no.  I heard Daughter say, "That one..." to whoever she was with; then she thanked me and we hung up.   I assumed that The Ex was buying another mobile, even though she was aware that we had already bought one.  Because honestly, that's something she would do.  And then, if she came to visit and they didn't have "her" mobile hanging over the crib, she'd complain about it.  But anyway....   Daughter came hom...

  A few weeks ago, The Ex's son had a wrestling tournament.  Daughter told us all about the fun and games that went on that day. ( As much as Daughter talks about The Ex and Ned, I can't help but wonder if she talks to them just as much about Husband and me.  I don't think she does, but the thought still crosses my mind every now and again.  Anyway.... )   For whatever reason, Ned was very crabby that day.  Daughter said he and The Ex were bickering about leaving; Ned wanted to get going and The Ex wasn't ready. ( Husband told me about this in the past.  The Ex takes forever to get ready.  It takes her hours.  Literally.  She's not like a make-up artist that takes over an hour to perfect their look; she's not a hairdresser that takes a long time to make sure it's done right.  She just. Takes. Forever . ) The Ex told Ned to go by himself and said something about how she still needed to pick up her parents. ( I don't know why her p...

  This year the basketball game that the school was holding Parents' Night was scheduled but got canceled due to weather. ( You can read about the weird Parents' Night for volleyball here . ) I asked Daughter if The Ex was planning on coming since we're supposed to call her if an event gets canceled per the court order.  Daughter said she had never told The Ex about it. ( I giggled a little inside, and then felt kind of bad for it. )   The game happened to get rescheduled on the same day as Husband's birthday.  We got to the school early; I told Baby Girl that if she saw the athletic director, she ought to tell him that it was Husband's birthday. ( School City is so small that everyone is on a first-name basis.  Baby Girl knows who the AD is because he heads up summer rec, which she attended for about 6-7 years; she even knows some of Daughter's teachers for the same reason, even though she goes to a different school. )   The JV game...

  The Ex hasn't logged into 2houses for over 2 1/2 months.  We didn't have any Holiday Crazy from her this year, which I feel is a huge milestone because I don't think that's ever happened in the 13 years that I've been with Husband.   Husband emailed her a while ago because last week was supposed to be her weekend; Daughter had practice Friday, an away game Saturday, and then would've had to come home Sunday evening.  Husband asked if The Ex wanted to switch weekends rather than driving down here three days in a row.  The Ex didn't answer for three weeks so Husband emailed her again saying they were going to switch weekends and he'd update the calendar.   Husband is turning 40 this year.  I am frantically planning a surprise party for him.  Daughter rhetorically asked this morning, "Do you know how hard it is to plan a surprise party for someone you live with?!"  She and I keep wanting to say things to Husband in casual conversation bu...

  Not quite a month ago, we found out that The Ex had insurance available through her employer; child support said they would send a letter stating she was required to cover Son and Daughter.  We haven't heard anything since then, so I called our dentist's office today and asked if they could check to see if The Ex had coverage or not.   I just found out that The Ex has had insurance since July 1st, 2018.   She never told us, never gave us a card, absolutely nothing.  She has herself, her two youngest kids, and Daughter covered.   Son was seventeen (still a minor) when The Ex got this coverage, but she apparently didn't feel it was necessary to cover him.  I have no idea why she wouldn't; it's not like it would cost more.  I think this will change, though.  Looking over the paperwork the office sent to me, it lists the "child coverage age" as 26.  Son is only 18.  If child support sent what they were supposed to, Son migh...