Hi all! It's been a long time since I've posted, but I'm a faithful reader of all your posts. I respect your opinions and thoughts, so I decided to get this out of my head and into the open.

My partner and I have been together for four years. He has a 9 year old daughter with his ex. She has been and continues to be spiteful and vindictive in all sorts of ways.

My man just got a new job that conflicts with exchanges one or two days a week now that school is out for the summer. He has asked me to help and I'm fine with doing so. My schedule is much more flexible and he has helped so much with my three - I'm cool with picking up the slack. However, his ex wants to have zero communication with me directly - she requires that he be the go-between - and it's not very effective. If either of us are late or there's some change in plans, she wants to text or email him (and I need to do the same) to let the other one know. Might work if he were sitting at a desk, but he's not. He's a chef and he's busting it out all day. It doesn't make sense for him to be involved at all.

So, Wednesday morning, I was going to be 15 minutes late for drop off. I texted her the following a few minutes before 9:00:

We are running a few minutes late. Should be there by 9:15.

Response four hours later: U r not welcomed 2 call me ever u stupid whore

My response two hours later: I will not attempt to communicate with you again. I was late and was trying to be respectful of your time by letting you know. I will do my best to be on time in the future. If you change your mind and are willing to work together on the infrequent occasions (my man) is unavailable, I'm open to that.

Response seven hours later: Fuck off whoreface.

A few mins later from her: gftothebf please stop texting my mom. (signed with 9 year old daughter's name)

The end of that exchange. I did not respond and I won't contact her again. The name calling isn't a big issue although she is almost 45 years old and I've been in the picture for four years - you'd think she could do better than that.

What is a big issue is the fall out that I'm sure is inevitable with his daughter when she gets back to us on Monday. I would never bring it up to her, but it's just one more step in the wrong direction for me and a little girl that is pretty confused about all of this.

I'm tired.