I feel the same way about my husband's exwife. I am custodial stepmom of 3 chlldren. My husband has always had custody because the exwife decided one day she no longer wanted to be married or a full-time mother. Before I came along she constantly dumped 99% of her time on my husband, he of course never said no, she had full control of her old household only she lived in a differnt place and had her own life. It was a very unhealthy situation. My husband just never stood up to her, he struggled to keep a full-time job and take care of 3 children. I give him tremendous credit because many men in his situation would not be able to take on that responsibilty. Well, then I come along, we get married and all of a sudden she begins to take a deeper interest. Mainly because I would not allow her to control my household and my husband began saying "no", She always used us as her babysitter, whether it was a work meeting, an exerecise class or a European vacation. She has been nothing but a major PIA, she wouldn't pay child support when my husband enforced the order she opened a full blown custody case, suing us for full custody because she did not want to financially support her children. We also have a screwed up schedule. During the school the chldren visit their mother Mon&Tues 4-8pm with alternating weekends. During the summer they visit her Mon-Wed 4-8pm with alternating weekends. The exwife wanted some crazy, they live with her 3days one week, then us 4days, and the next week it was the reverse. Mind you, she only had a 2bedroom condo. All three children sleep in the same bedroom. 2 girls 13&10 and a 8yr old boy. The master had enough sense to reconize that the living arrangemnents were not appropriate and would not grant anymore overnight visits except for the already standing 2 weekends a month. The schedule is crazy. The exwife is crazy. She teaches the children it is ok to lie to us. She is NOT supportative of myself or my husband. She has harrassed us to the point that she is not allowed on our property, she can not contact us by phone, she may only communicate via email, unless it is an emergency related to that day's schedule, then she may leave a message on our cell phone. She would call my husband at work and pull him out of meetings with the CEO of the company for some nonsense question. HE would get numerous calls on a daily basis. I never saw 2 divorced people talk on a daily basis. We have insulated ourselves as much as possible but everyday there is some new issue. She never returns clothes that the kids wear over there, one day she sent my ss home with no shoes on. She won't take the kids to baseball games and then tells them we did not give her the information. I could go on and on. But your words say it best I HATE HER!!!!! If I had hindsight my posting would be alot differnt. I would be like that one woman who used to be involved with a man with children. Trying being involved with a man who has custody of his children. The rewards have been few and far between. I have lived this from the first day I moved to where my husband lives (I moved from a different state). So the entire two years of my marriage have been filled with this crap. My husband's relationship with his children has also suffered terribly. I was divorced for 11yrs before I remarried and never experienced one ounce of the trouble I have in this life, and it isn't even my divorce. The best advice I can give you is stand your ground. Say NO, she is responsible for her custodial time. It took my husband a long time to be able to say no, it is very easy for me. I know that he is still uncomfortable with saying no but I help him, Remember you can't let her control your life. Good luck, God Bless. I understand, it's one hell of a way to live.

Caroline - no worries about ticking me off - I agree. DH and I got ours when I was pregnant and commuting long distances. Then we stopped carrying them until around 6 years ago. We started again so that the kids school would have an emergency # if we had to go out of town during the school day. I almost NEVER talk on mine and think it is mostly another thing to throw my money at. Half the time I don't even answer the land line. I love the freedom of not having to talk on the phone if I don't want to. I definitely have days where I just need to disconnect from everyone. It bothers me so much to see and hear everyone around me gabbing on the phone all the time, HANG UP, try communicating with a little eye contact for a change. Get to know the people around you. Or at LEAST use a little discretion. I see kids walking home from school in groups all talking on the phone. Yes I agree they are mostly toys. They are a status symbol just like what shoes you wear or if you have a MySpace page. They are a way to judge importance and measure worth, I see it all the time. And hear it too everytime my son says "but mom my phone doesn't play songs or take pictures, and everyone is telling me my phone sucks and I should get the new ---- phone." At our small town baseball and football games (where I spend most of my time) I regularly watch people call from one bleacher to the other. GET UP and walk over and have an actual conversation. Ok, now I'm ranting. I do have issues. LOL!

We drove mom crazy with this one: "So get yourself all set, tune up your TV set for Huck-le-ber-ry Hound!" Which we heard as "TURN up your TV set", so we'd crank up the volume. Allllll the way up. Mom hollered from the other room "that's not what they're saying!" Mind you, I forgot to schedule my son's appointment with his surgeon, but I remember the words to an early 60s cartoon theme song. Sigh. Maybe I should just move in down the hall from Mom and Dad now.

Michele, I love seeing Tina Turner and the Ikettes dance - I was not familiar with that song. I do well remember Heart of Stone by the Rolling Stones, however.