Well the problem is he works 12 hour days, so for us to pick them up on a weekend he worked would pretty much be pretty pointless. I overheard her telling him that he could 'hang out at her boyfriend's house' which is an hour and a half drive away, and would be awkward as HELL. I mean why don't we have our meetings in plate glass windows dividing us you know?

The mother isn't mentally stable and really has no business having kids, and it's really unfortunate because children haven't the choice of when they come into the world. And like you guys said, children are known to be forgetful and easily manipulated too, so simply putting the blame on them not caring enough to call is stupid. I tried to tell Aaron this and he's like well I don't need the stress. I told him point blank this wasn't the Aaron I knew - he would always put the kids before his own feelings. I told him he's their only dad and he's like 'well Roy is there' and I shot back you and I both know they are not emotionally attached to that man and are well aware that isn't their father.

If he would of walked away, the kids would of probably been told by their mother that their father doesn't care about them and that he chose me over them. Of course she's told them that, and said it to Aaron directly and we've TRIED telling her it doesn't work that way. When I first met Aaron he told me straight away about his kids, and I accepted them as a package deal. I told the kids numerous times they are always welcome here and if they wanted to live with their dad I would love for them to. I have made my intentions clear and I'm not just going to give up on them. I'll continue being the person kicking Aaron in the butt if I have to to keep him in line.

What a massive pile of stress upon stress upon more stress.

Maybe you guys should try a weekend even if he works? It sends a message to the kids that this is why he's so busy, and in the meanwhile they'll get quality time with you while evening time with their dad.

Still... it sounds really hard to juggle it all. :gonk:

He sounds stressed and depressed. Poor thing. And it sucks that the kids are stuck in the middle.

Well after that whole scenario I've gotten to sit down and talk to Aaron about how it went -- apparently his ex-wife unplugged the phone from the wall on me while I was telling Pam goodbye. I heard her say she loved me and then I said I did too and click. Apparently in the 15mins it took for her to call back both her and her mom were fighting. She told her mom point blank she should be allowed to speak to whom she wanted and that next time I called she'd lie and say it was her dad. I don't want to support her talking back, but at the same time a part of me was so proud of her for standing up to her mother like that, and even more so to say she loved me in front of her mom. It took her the longest time to show affection to me in front of her mother, and it really wasn't until Aaron talked to her about it and just how much it'd mean to me to have a hug goodbye. (She would always be really huggy and touchy feely away from her mom - heck both her and her brother would jump up in my lap and hang onto me, so I knew it wasn't me or perhaps just the child's nature to not be affectionate.)

Aaron says he's feeling much better, and after talking to them it sounds like we will be getting them next weekend when he's off work. He's asked if we can sink a couple bucks to take them swimming at the college and I immediately said heck yah. Things are tight, but I can pull a few strings to get the money there so we can spend some family time.

It also struck me when Tristan was asking his dad if he was OK and he goes "I was worried about you!". He's always so nonchalant with everyone at times it's like it's just part of his nature. I mean he will tell you time and time again he loves you and hugs you when he's here at our house but when it boils down to the exchange of kids he's so unemotional you have to grab the boy and make him hug you -- he just has times where he seems like he could care less either way. I told Aaron I think he's found a coping mechanism for the situation that has been working for him and he doesn't really realize it.

Ahh I feel much better. Sorry for the drama infused talk tonight, but once again you guys really helped. *hugs* Sometimes I just really need a sympathetic ear to let me know I'm not out of line...you know?

Edit: Anyways, Aaron is working so he's up at 5am tomorrow. I'm going to go spend a little time with him before he drifts off to sleep. (If I can pry the PSP out of his hands...damn Christmas present I've given this year has really got him addicted!) I'll be on a bit tomorrow as I'm off school and work. I've got a couple small chores to do, and eventually some reading but I'm not in any hurry to get it finished. Hope you guys have a good night and I'll be looking forward to sitting down and just having normal, non-drama filled talk. Hopefully the weekend will be pretty lax.

*huggles*
That's what friends are for, miss Izumi!
Glad to know that things are working out a little better.

Random side note: Squee! I've just been nominated for users pick for the second week in a row! I'm so happy!

Awesome Steel! :heart: I hope they pick you for the front page with that dress - It's such an awesome combo. :3

Night guys and I'll see you tomorrow!

Thanks! *hugs*
Sleep well Izumi! Have a great night!

I'm glad things are getting better, Izumi. I'd say just keep giving Aaron focus to keep the lines of communication open, even when he's in the middle of self-doubt.

Oooh, congrats Steel. I really do like your avatar, and I can see why it was nominated for user's pick. Yay!!

I got up before 6am. I kinda want to go back to bed now, but I'm showered and thus need to finish getting ready for the day. I have to leave here in about an hour and a half, no later. Sooo, I guess I'll get my butt moving once I check my e-mail.

Aww hope things perk up Chi!

I just rolled out of bed and I'm trying to wake up. I'm having one of those days where I wake up with a massive headache. Hopefully a cup of coffee might perk me up.

I wonder if having some really messed up and scary dreams didn't help. *shudders*

Are you going to cook that poor mouse?

Hey guys! How was everyone's day.
I am absurdly full and tired, but happy. :)

I'm content. My meeting today went well, and it was nice to see a few familiar faces. I don't know what I'll end up thinking of Latin I, because the class is huge. The instructor asked if one day a week we can break it up so that he can give more individual feedback, so instead of me going MWF, I'll go MWTh.

Works out for me perfectly! I won't have to get up and out on Fridays, save for waking my nephew up, or when I have a non-class meeting on campus.

That is awesome! That sounds like a hell of a deal. Hooray!

Plus, I can still work on Thursdays. Class wouldn't begin until 2pm, and almost all Thursdays, work is done right around that time.

So, I now only have to have early morning classes Mondays and Wednesdays. If I can talk to the faculty members to work it out so that (most of) my side-campus jobs are done on my Wednesday breaks, this semester will go quite smoothly.

It's also been confirmed that my Research Methods & Design group will present again at the community agency's board member meeting this Tuesday. Only 3 of us can make it, and the other Research group wasn't able/interested.

So we're doing a really good thing to keep the community relationships going strong with our campus and elsewhere. Even more so if I can talk one of my friends into continuing on with this project for our Senior Seminar work.

At this point, I'd do it myself. I'm interested in the subject, and it would save me the headache of thinking up another organization to go to. I do think my friend is equally interested though, and we work well together.

That sounds really awesome! It's so good to hear that school is going so smoothly for you. I'm sure it helps with the motivation issue as well. :)

Ewww no...He just wants some of my cooking. *pets mousey*

Dammit I'm like 15 gold off my target. *checks to see if she maxed yet*

Oh yes. I feel motivated from the meeting I went to. I do not care about Latin I (not a reflection of my instructor or anything else, mind), but I am looking forward to my side-work this semester.

A lot. :D

Awesome, Chi! At least now it won't be such a drag having to go to school. I missed school today. I miss getting out of the house. I spent it all inside today and it felt weird.

The rest of the weekend will be like that, cause Aaron has work. I don't know how I didn't go insane...I use to leave the house maybe a couple of times a week, and spent the majority of it at home, working.

Oh, I'm completely excited that I have Fridays off. :XD I love that I'll only have to be out 4 days a week.

It's my hope that from now until April-ish, Cole and I will have more time together on Fridays and Saturdays, so I'm excited to be house bound. I figure that so long as the grocery loads aren't epic bad, maybe I can handle that Thursday afternoons so long as he can help me drag it in once I'm home.

He's just really good at lifting, whereas I'm not. My back sucks. Dx

Though I just forgot, next Friday I have a back appointment anyway. :XD M'ah well. We need more vegan cheese anyway.

Uwah. Clearly I am totally out of it. The food coma is setting in hardcore. I'm going to go take a shower guys! Ciao!

Foodcoma? What have you been up to steel? Hope you feel better soon! *hugs*

I've gotten the money for raven anklewings! Huah! Now...I must hunt down the next item for trade...*starts looking through the trades board*

Hehe, go Izumi go!!

See you later Steel. :3

Food comas are always nice. We picked up stuff to make chicken Pad Thai this weekend. ^O^

OK So it's a good coma? :XD

Yeah I feel like I've accomplished something. Personally I like to have the said item on hold and agreed price. It gives me a goal to attain and it motivates me to keep up with it because I know as soon as I hit it I have it there to trade for.

I asked someone if they'd mind holding a Chaos Scepter for me. I think that'll be the next item, then the Sleepy Melodies harp. I'll finish getting the CIs from 2007 that I really wanted first before they go up anymore... ~_~

Hehe, silly Izumi. Yeah a food coma is that sleepy, zombified feeling you get when you've eaten a lot of really good food. :XD
I went out to dinner at Chili's with a friend today (it was going to be this great little local place, but they were closed for renovations). It was wonderful. I enjoy hanging out with her, she makes me happy. :)

Ohhh Chilli's makes me happy too! :drool:

Glad you had a good time hun! I'm waiting for Aaron to come and kick me off the computer, so if I disappear don't be too surprised. :XP

I need to wake up early for work tomorrow, anyways.