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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP here.  I have offered ex-DH to stop with the child support.  His money really doesn't make a difference one way or another.  Besides, next year DS will stick with only 2 activities as he's entering MS  and will be pretty busy.  With ex-DH it is the matter of "pride" that he's "financially helping" out.

Now on the subject of "how do the stepkids and stepmom know where he goes and what he does?"  How's he supposed to hide it?  "What did you for spring break?" - "Umm, nothing" and show up with a Florida tan.  Why is he supposed to lie?

I did recommend he stop it with the gifts other than on birthdays, esp. since the type of gifts he gives them are so different from what he gets.  On his 12th birthday he got a set of coloring books!  Really?  He's a 12-yr boy, not a 5-yr girl.[/quote]

OP, I am sympathetic to your situation generally speaking, but you are not coming off great here either. You have gone out of your way to denigrate your ex's family's choices regarding whether his second wife works, how they parent the other children, and you went well out of your way to point out the many ways that you are a better parent. That may be true, but don't be so smug about it, even here. [/quote]

The stepmom and her children go out of their way to make my DS feel uncomfortable and I should just swallow it?  Do you know that my DS doesn't want to go to that house anymore?  Do you know that I now have to spend time and effort convincing him to have a relationship with his father because he feels he doesn't have his back?  Yes, he's sensitive, but also kind-hearted, hard-working and honest.  And I've put up with a lot more from that family, I've been pretty accommodating. If I wanted to be "smug", I would've insisted that the CS was much higher than what he's paying now.

They have no right to discuss or be smug about where he's vacationing, what he's studying, reading, or playing.  I did not start denigrating her children, she did it with mine.  She called him spoiled, she called him "our little rich boy" to his face.  All with a smile.  [/quote]

No, but you should be aware that you are contributing to the differences between him and his siblings. I understand that you are trying to do what is best for your son, but participating in the adversarial relationship with your ex - EVEN IF YOU DID NOT START IT - is not helpful or what is best for your son. You did the right thing by telling your ex that the "little rich boy" shit needs to stop. Ignore his comments about how your son is too sensitive and continue to focus on "things that are best for our son." If he won't let go of the "vacation" issue, you can simply tell him that each of you makes decisions about how to spend your vacation time with your son, and that it's important that you both be respectful of those decisions, particularly in front of your son.

I completely understand that your son may be reluctant to spend time at a home where he feels uncomfortable or singled out. I completely understand that that's upsetting to you. But your son is 12, not 4. You need to be having conversations with him that give him tools to navigate these situations. Suggestions like not bringing expensive presents are good. Helping him to understand that it's important that he try to find a way to connect with his dad and his siblings even when it's hard is good. You have an opportunity to take the moral high ground here. Saying "She started it!!" and "She CHOSE to stay home!" and "[b]Why should MY SON be punished because THEY can't take vacations" is smug[/b].[b] If that is your attitude here, that's probably your attitude, quietly, the whole time. Your son will pick up on this[/b], and it will either have the effect of making him smug about it or making him feel guilty about it, neither of which are good.[/quote]

This, seriously. [/quote]

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