Okay, so far the whole ignoring the skids and not being involved with anything is not only going well, but apparently the skids actually interpret it as me trying to be better with them. I've been less stressed out (though DH is probably MORE stressed out, but my theory that when I stay out of it, things are acutally better is holding true). Thursday night I returned home to find a couple of flowers and a note from the skids about how I'm the best SM ever. A nice gesture, I'll admit, possibly this is also due to less harping from me. I managed to muster a thank-you that passed for sincere (I'm so mean, but it's gonna take more than that for me to actually like them). The whole weekend hasn't been bad...but tomorrow is Father's Day. The morning will be filled with MY father, a nice lunch, and doggie play-time over at my parents' house. The skids will be well-behaved as they always are at my parents' house because they know that neither I, nor my parents, play that mess whatsoever. They are always angels for my parents. The afternoon will be filled with my F-I-L...and that's when the shit is gonna hit the fan. Last time we were over at my in-laws' house, I literally had to walk out and take a breather because there's nothing the skids like more than to show-out while we're all there, and there's nothing my in-laws like more than undermining DH when he's trying to discipline him. Tomorrow will be the true test of disengagement. There will be yelling, there will be ridiculousness, the skids will act like they are 3 and 5 instead of 11 and almost 13, the in-laws will play into it, DH will be irritated, I will be irritated...but if I can stay strong in the face of the shitstorm that is seeing my in-laws/skids together, I will have mastered the art of disengagement. Pray. For. Me.