This past October, BM's husband passed away from a "seizure" (everyone pretty much knows it was a drug overdose/drug related...but we'll let that lie go for now). So she strikes a deal with my FH: if FH will allow her to change SD's last name to BM's (now dead) husband's last name, then FH can stop paying child-support forever. The reason for this being, if SD has BM's husband's name and BM files him as the main care-provider then the state will pay BM every month as if SD was his child.

I tried to sign on this morning and couldn't get on!! And I couldn't look at other members profiles or posts. So I was thinking

UH OH... What the *$#% did I do now? Who did I tick off??

But now I'm back...

Thanks Dawn and Admin for a great site and a great place to vent and find some company!

Today begins week 4 -- the final -- of SD8's month with us. I had envisioned this month being COMPLETELY different than it has turned out. My husband & I naively thought that we'd have a month with SD8 to enjoy our time with her, take her on weekend trips, play games, etc. A month without SD8 acting like a mini BM because she'd be away from her. We could work on her manners, rudeness, hygiene, etc.

I am in a real pickle here and need some sound advice from any of you who may have experience this issue. DH wants to take BM to a mediator and discuss why he wants the SK's on a more even basis. Currently the SK's come over EOW and for three hours one day per week. During the summer, we get them every other week. They have expressed, strongly, that they want to switch week on and week off with mom and dad. BM tells the kids that if they do this, they can just stay over at dads (although she guilts them into thinking they don't love her if they choose this option).