Mark, the father of my children, called today. He wants our kids – he always says “my kids”— that really annoys the hell out of me.  If I remember correctly I had something to do with them being here on earth…little pet peeve.  

He called to tell me – not ask me – that he and his soon-to-be bride would be taking the kids on a camping trip.  First, I am not sure what planet Mark and his girlfriend are on but it is freezing here and I don’t think camping is a great idea.  Second, since when does he make decisions about our kids going away for 4 days without consulting me?  I told him that I had to check my calendar and that I needed to know the details of this trip AND that I didn’t think it was a good idea – maybe when it warms up – like in May.  He got mad at me and started yelling – this is what he does when he doesn’t get his way – he yells.

He yelled and yelled and I wasn’t paying attention until he told me that I needed to grow up and face the fact that he is going to be married soon and that the kids are going to have a new mom.  Guess what happened then?

I hung up on him. 

A new mom????  So now I’m the “old mom”? Did someone forget to tell me something?  Am I dying? So exactly what does it mean that they are going to have a new mom??? And what the hell does this have to do with camping???

He called again.

I took some deep breaths and I answered the phone.  He started yelling again.  I told him that I would not stay on the phone if he could not talk to me like an adult.  He calmed down.  That is when I asked what exactly did it mean that our kids would have a new mom.  Can you believe he repeated it again?  He said I had to face reality and recognize that our kids would have a new mom.  Guess what happened then?

I told him to go to hell.  And THEN I hung up on him again.

I am all for Mark getting married but just because he is getting a new wife it doesn’t automatically give the kids a new mom.  Here’s the thing – the kids don’t need a new mom because they have their old mom and for the record, I am NOT old.  The kids like Mark’s girlfriend and I have had numerous conversations about her with the kids. I ask about her when they come home from Mark’s.  I bought them both gifts for Christmas, from the kids.  The kids asked me what they should call her now that daddy is getting married.  I told them that they should call her by her name.  

I am not one of those women that will pit her kids against the new woman in daddy’s life.  I don’t care about him enough to use that energy.  I’m raising two kids and I run my own business and I have a personal life – I need all the energy I can get!  I want the kids to be happy when they go to their dad’s but I draw the line at a “new mom”.

Oh and by the way, no they are not going on the camping trip.  Yes, the phone is still ringing and no, I am not going to answer until the kids get home.