Yes she has to call stepmom Mom. She does it so she won't get into trouble. She doesn't like it because it's awkward to her. Dad and I divorced when she was 4. Dad met stepmom during seperation. Dd met stepmom right after divorce. Dd called stepmom by her first name for the next 4 years but then all of a sudden, she has to start calling her Mom just in the past 8 months. It's so weird. Oh Dd asked me a weird question today. I had a lightbulb go off in my head and I wanted to tell y'all. She just out of the blue said, I think it's so weird that my dad has to pay you money but you have a car and he doesn't. I just paused for a minute not sure how to answer because I have never told Dd about child support. So I asked her to explain her concern further because I wasn't understanding her point. She said you and Stepdad work, Dad works but he makes more money than both of you and you still have a nicer car than he does, he doesn't even have his own car.. So many thoughts went through my head and later, my Dh and I brought it up to each other and we laughed that both of us had the same thoughts... 'well if stepmom would get a job then maybe your daddy could buy himself a new car! AND SM drives a car that cost what mine and DHs cars combined cost... But alas that wasn't my response. I just told her yes Dad pays what is called child support and it's court ordered. You live more time with me and so the state says that both parents have to equally provide for their kids and that means he gives us money to help pay for your clothes, shoes, toothpaste, roofing, heat, water, etc. AND daddy doesn't have a car of his own because he has a vehicle that is provided for him by his boss and so he doesn't need one of his own, right? She said OH that would be so silly for him to have two cars. Every morning he would have to flip a coin to see which one to drive! Why does this jerk think he has to share every detail with our daughter?? She does not need to know the ins and outs of family court... I do wish there was a way to prove all of this and put his butt back on supervised visits where he belongs!

Have a wonderful time! I love it when KTers get together. Now can't someone from New York or Jersey or Pennsylvania host one ?? I could bring my chicken salad and my mom's famous shrimp salad. I

I spent 12 years at the telephone company. I worked directory assistance,and then long distance, I also helped with keeping the directory up -to-date and with keeping track of the hours everyone worked. I stayed home for a couple of years and when DD started school. I was bored and started working at the University of Georgia part time. Eventually, had part-time hours and full time work so I went to full time. I worked for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education. We provided cont. Ed. seminars for attorneys. I was an Event Planner officially but didn't plan the events. (go figure). I got the programs after they were over. I was the person that everyone went to when they needed something done yesterday. I retired May 1, 2010 but did go back to work in Feb. & March to help out during their busy time. It was nice. I was just part-time again and just had to go do my job and go home. No responsibility! The money was nice too. Linda

Thanks, and yes we did have a great lunch. Met her at Surin's at 11:30, and left at 2. Ordered an appetizer of their crab angels. Enjoyed, drooled over their coconut soup! I had their Thai bbq chicken with shrimp rice Linda had a chicken and rice noodle dish