When it comes to your children's other parent, the best choice is normally not. Take the last 24 hours chain of events.
Saturday afternoon - While I am at work (yes on a Saturday) their mother texts me and very graciously asks if I would like a few extra hours with the boys Sunday since I have to work next Friday and Saturday (my days with the boys next week).
I respond, that sounds great!
Saturday evening - I go over to mom's house to get a few hugs with the boys (normal routine when they are at their mom's) and we settle on a time for them to come over. We discuss that between 3:00 and 4:00pm would be a good time...aiming for 3:30pm.
Sunday - I get most of my Sunday chores done (see previous post) and head to the store for my weekly grocery shopping around 2:30, thinking I can fit it in, I still have an hour. Well, she comes by at 3 to drop them off. No text, no call. Not a big deal, Grandma is there. Everything should be fine. Yet Mama is not a happy camper. I was not there. Apparently she leaves in quite a tiff. I arrive home at 3:25 to discover all this and have two choices, call her and ask why she is so angry or just let it disappear.
I choose option 2. In fact, when she calls that evening to say good night to the boys still sounding a bit perturbed at the situation, I completely change gears and talk about the upcoming birthday party for our youngest and how to work out the spending for the party. I take that opportunity to even throw in a "Why don't I just take care of the bounce house, remind me to order it tomorrow."
Instead of firing back a comment that she would never agree on, I chose to deflect the issue, take some of the birthday party pressure off of her and throw her a bone with the reminder request. She gets to hang up the phone with a completely different mindset then "Why weren't you home"
Any thoughts, comments?
No comments:
Post a Comment