Comments on: The ‘Fun Parent’ in Divorce

By: NewWrldYankee

NewWrldYankee — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 06:13:41 +0000

I am right there with Jim H and Cathouse Teri - No way should be interrupting your time with them, especially when you have so little time with them in the first place. If they do your chores on your time at your house, the same applies for her time and her house. It seems only logical, right? NewWrldYankee´s last blog post..You Can Make Your Move to Europe - Part III How to Study Abroad

By: MariaAK

MariaAK — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:13:34 +0000

Fun Parent? um, in different ways…
Dad: TV, Xbox, things that are loud and suck lots of gas (snomachines, 4wheelers, chainsaws, etc…we live in AK)
Mom: I’ll take them to the Nutcracker soon, we’ll ski, we ride bikes play cards, cook, and have dinner with friends.

Each parent gets to parent on their own time. We have different ideas, of course, and that MIGHT be a factor of our Divorce! The tricky part is when activities overlap into each other’s time…Scouts, sports, practices, etc. One parent may have signed up the kid for soccer and the other parent thinks “unstructured” time is better for the kids. Is it ok, then, to request the parent to take the kid to soccer during their time? (And can you get upset if they don’t?) I think you can request the other parent to do a few things on their time (NOT chores, however) but you can’t get mad if they don’t – ESPECIALLY if it isn’t bothering the kid at all and the kid is happy either way.

By: stradasphere

stradasphere — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:49:46 +0000

HAHA! I am the fun parent!! But I do try and make doing chores fun...but my ex isn't my ex yet! But they still call me the FUN DAD...I can live with that! stradasphere´s last blog post..O-BAMA! O-BAMA!

By: Zeet

Zeet — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:18:58 +0000

Wow, she actually asked for them to do their chores at her place on your time? That is ridiculous. If she can’t manage their time when she has them it should not take away from the time you have with them. Very unfair.

By: mama

mama — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 03:07:27 +0000

1. Sorry to read about the spamming. 2. I read your post today to a friend who, in her marriage, is going through the same thing. Good parent-bad parent. I go through it, too. I think it is very common even in the best of circumstances; I remember my father was never the one to throw all the contents of my bedroom out into the hall for me to clean up as did my mother to get me to clean my room. I am trying to learn to be creative with my chore list and make it as much fun as possible, but it fries my burgers when He gets to go have fun with the kids on his time with them, going out to eat and taking them on fun outings... and I always have to have them completing tasks, with "100% fun time" at a minimum when with Mama Llama. However, I notice that the kids come to me to talk, they respect me as I trust them with responsibilities and they are learning slowly that Life isn't all Legos and Lincoln Logs--they must be put away as well. Be well, Dads. mama´s last blog post..good intentions

By: justrun

justrun — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:39:36 +0000

You mean having kids doesn't mean someone else will clean the bathroom? Dang, there goes ALL my plans. justrun´s last blog post..Just Say Thanks

By: krn

krn — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:11:25 +0000

I’m the less fun parent of the two of us, but I am also fun. I’m also the consistent one and now that our son is old enough to appreciate the good things that come along with that, I’m very pleased with things as they are. I’m also the full custody parent who has our son all but several weeks out of the year.

Your frustration is understood and here’s a gentle *hug* for that. I wouldn’t have been so cooperative with the ex’s request to have the kids come home to do chores. But, I admire your ability to be flexible, houseDad.